ABP Budget Conclave | Sitaram Yechury Predicts 'K Shape' Recovery For Economy, Says 'Only Rich Gets Richer'

Speaking exclusively in ABP News' Jan Man Dhan Budget Conclave, General Secretary CPI(M) Sitaram Yechury spoke at length about the issues that he feels concern Union Budget 2021.

New Delhi: General secretary of CPI (M) Sitaram Yechury was speaking to ABP News when he criticised the Union Budget revealed on Monday saying that it offers 'K-shaped' recovery instead of the 'V-shaped' one - denoting that the rich gets richer and poor gets poorer.

Speaking exclusively in ABP News' Jan Man Dhan Budget Conclave, General Secretary CPI(M) Sitaram Yechury spoke at length about the issues that he feels concern Union Budget 2021. Union Budget 2021 which was unveiled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday.

"Difficult to find a good aspect"

When asked about the positive aspects of the budget, the CPI (M) General Secretary said that it is very difficult to find something good from this budget of the government. "The condition that the economic system is going through today is a severe recession. If you want to get out of this recession, then government expenditure should be increased. The government expenditure figures in the budget are the same as last time. Therefore, the 'V-Shape' recovery will not happen. This will be 'K shape' recovery which means that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer".

"Selling Nation's Assets"

"The provisions made in the budget, aim for mass privatization, selling the country's assets and allow foreign capital in all sectors openly. It is basically surrendering the economy instead of opting for self-dependency (aatma-nirbharta)," he said, later calling the budget "jan virodhi" (anti-people).

"Government reduced food subsidy"

Sitaram Yechury said, "The farmer protest is going on and you (govt) have reduced the fertilizer subsidy. There is increased starvation in the nation. You (govt) reduced the foot subsidy. The prices of petrol and diesel are going up wildly and you have reduced the petroleum subsidy".

"Everyone should get free Covid vaccine"

When asked about the massive allocation for Coronavirus inoculation drive, Sitaram Yechury said that there were no favours done as, since independence, the cost of any vaccination is borne by the central government. It should be universal for everyone. There is no question of favor in this. Whether everyone will get free vaccine or not, only time will tell. We say that everyone should get the Covid-19 vaccine for free.