'Directionless, Biased Towards Bihar, Andhra': Mamata Banerjee Slams Union Budget 2024

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee criticised the NDA-led Centre over the flood relief and reconstruction allocations under Union Budget 2024, saying they were "not given to non-NDA-led states".

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joined the chorus against the Union Budget 2024, calling it "directionless" and "an attempt to make NDA partners happy". She also said that the Centre's budget has "no vision, only political mission". Calling it "anti-people, anti-poor budget," the Trinamool Congress chief said that budget posed as just another example of how the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government "constantly deprives" West Bengal.

The TMC chief, while lambasting the Centre over the allocation of special financial packages such as reconstruction and flood relief to states like Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, claimed that it was a latest addition to the deprivations for TMC-led Bengal.

"I have no problem that (the Centre) has given financial packages to Andhra and Bihar. But the law cannot be discriminatory. They have constantly deprived West Bengal. West Bengal is not a small state," said Banerjee.

Stressing that the state too requires such special funds, given that it faced cyclones like Amphan, she said: "They have given (flood relief and reconstruction packages) to neighbouring states but not to Bengal. We are supposed to get Rs 1,71,000 crore as dues from the Centre. They have not given us a paisa. There is no talk of the dues of 100 days of work."

"The people of West Bengal will rise up against this deprivation. We are not weak," the Bengal CM added.

'Seeks Votes From Darjeeling But Forgets It After Votes'

In view of the financial grant allocated to Sikkim, which recently suffered due to landslides and natural calamities, Banerjee stated that the Centre "seeks votes from Darjeeling, but they forget it after votes."

She also slammed the BJP for making false promises during Lok Sabha polls and not fulfilling them. 

"They make tall claims and promises during elections. But after they get votes, they forget Kalimpong, Darjeeling...People in the hills of Darjeeling should remember this. Let Sikkim get things, we have no objection but keeping Darjeelimg deprived is not right."

The Bengal CM also said that the Centre did not talk about employment for the next generation. "Inflation is rising. I see no light in the budget. Only darkness," she added.

Besides Banerjee, other TMC leaders including Abhishek Banerjee, criticised Centre over the budget on similar lines.

In a post on X, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee wrote: "This BUDGET is a complete failure with ZERO WARRANTY, presented by a FAILED FINANCE MINISTER OF A FAILED GOVERNMENT. Instead of tackling urgent issues like unemployment, rising prices and growing inflation, the BJP has crafted a budget to bribe its coalition partners and buy time before the government IMPLODES!"

Today, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2024-25 during the Budget Session of Parliament for the seventh consecutive time.