'Few Good Things' To 'Drop In The Ocean For Middle Class': Congress Reacts To Union Budget

Reacting to the Union Budget 2023, the Congress reacted with mixed feelings to the budget delivered by Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman

The Congress seemed to have mixed feelings on the Union budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharama even as she dubbed it as the blueprint for a prosperous India. While some leaders of the party acknowledged 'some good things' about the budget, few others called it 'a drop in the ocean' for the middle class.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that there were some good things in the Budget, however, added that it also lacked to answer some fundamental questions on issues such as poor rural labour, employment and inflation.

Tharoor said, "There are some good things in #UnionBudget2023 but there was no mention of MNREGA, poor rural labour, employment & inflation. Some fundamental questions remained to be answered."

FM Sitharaman announced that in the new tax regime, the Personal Income Tax rebate limit would be increased to Rs 7 lakh, which was earlier Rs 5 lakh. Reacting to this mega announcement, Congress leader Karti Chidambaram said, "A major part of the budget is a repetition of the President's address and the Economic Survey report...any tax cut is welcome. Putting money in the hands of people is the best way to boost the economy." He further added, "I am a believer in a low tax regime. So, any tax cuts are welcome because giving more money into the hands of the people is the best way to boost the economy."

However, the tax rebate did not appeal a lot to Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, who said, "No solution to price-rise, inflation, unemployment. Poor got just words & rhetoric. Budget benefits only the big industrialists. Tax rebate up to Rs 7 Lakhs is insignificant considering the inflation & price-rise, it’s like drop in ocean for middle class."

Congress MP K Suresh alleged the Budget of being pro-corporate. He said, "It is a pro-corporate budget. All interests of Adani are fulfilled in this budget, but the common man has been ignored. This budget is for Adani, Ambani, and Gujarat."

Congress MP Manish Tewari has slammed the Budget announcements and said that the finance minister said nothing about the country's debt of Rupees 18 lakh crore. He said the Budget should not take the country into 'Bhootkaal'.

JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranjan said, "There is nothing in the Budget. It is like ‘Sapno Ka Saudagar’ - nothing comes true when you wake up after a dream. Also, nothing was mentioned about how to control inflation and unemployment."

Former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti said that the Budget is the same that had been coming for the last few years. She said, "Taxes increased, money not being spent on welfare schemes & subsidies. Tax is collected for some crony capitalists & big businessmen. The public should benefit from taxes but it's breaking their back...Instead of benefitting them (common people), welfare schemes and subsidies are being scrapped. People who had risen above the poverty level have fallen below the poverty level again."

Budget 2023-24 is the final full Budget of the NDA-II government. This Budget holds much significance as the country is scheduled to have the next Lok Sabha elections in April-May 2024. Like the previous two Union Budgets, this one was also delivered in paperless form. The Cabinet has okayed the Union Budget 2023-24, the last full Budget of Modi 2.0 government.