New Delhi [India]: Terming the seventh Budget present by Finance Minister Sitharaman as “disappointing Budget” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the budget is meant only to save the government’s chair.
In a veiled attack at BJP-led NDA government, Mallikarjun Kharge said, “They made the budget to appease just one or two people (JDU and TDP) so that they can save their government.
Kharge said that the Budget 2024-25 has special allocations for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh and not for other regions of the country.
Accusing the BJP-led Centre of neglecting the 140 crore people to appease their two allies, JDU and TDP so that they can save their government, Kharge said, ” But some regions needed more emphasis in this Budget. For example, our region of Kalyan-Karnataka-Hyderabad has a special status under the Constitution, but the government neglected funds for these regions too. This budget clearly shows that this government has neglected 140 crores of people to appease two people (BJP allies) so that their the government is saved. This budget is more for the happiness of two of their friends.”
The BJP won 240 seats in Lok Sabha polls, falling short of majority and relied on NDA allies TDP and JD (U) to form the government at the Centre for third consecutive term. The JD (U) has 12 Lok Sabha seats, while TDP has 16 seats, both considered crucial allies for the BJP-led NDA government.
Kharge further slammed Modi government and said that they haven’t done anything specific for the public in the last 10 years.
Taking a jibe at Modi’s government’s last 10 years tenure, he further stated, “We want to know what they have given to the public in their 10 years budget. When we were in government, we gave something to each section of society and started MGNREGA (an employment programme), ensured food security and health security, and gave the right to education and a mid-day meal. What they have given? Modi Ji only talked about the Modi Ki Guarantee during the elections, but what now? He has just a habit of telling lies.”
Stating that the NDA government has made a very weak railway budget, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that railways have become “Na Idhar Ka Na Udhar Ka.”
Highlighting the railway’s status in Budget 2024-25, Kharge stated, “From last few days, there have been several accidents in the railways but they have turned the situation of railways stranded. They didn’t say anything about railways, although they could. Railways have become “Na Idhar Ka Na Udhar Ka”. Railways needed a lot of reforms, including the safety of passengers, track reconstruction, and solutions for the problems of railway police and officials. Also, they haven’t allotted any money for the expansion of coach manufacturing companies which we had started in Karnataka. They have made a very weak railway budget.”
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge further called the budget “disappointing”, addressing no provisions for legalising MSP for farmers, and said, “This budget is disappointing. Secondly, it is more from the point of view of saving their chair (government). Additionally, we were expecting relaxations related to the MSP guarantee and steps for legalising it. We were also expecting subsidies for fertilisers and pesticides, but no provisions related to them are present in the budget.”
Reacting to the statement of some MPs expressing their repentance on not receiving anything for their state, Kharge stated, “They have neglected Haryana, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, etc, that’s why they are saying. As I have already said, they have made this budget to save their government and appease their friends.”
In her budget announcement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted new airports and medical colleges in Bihar, temple corridors, and special funds for the Rajgir Jain Temple site. Andhra Pradesh received special financial support to address its need for capital, with an allocation of Rs 15,000 crore for the current fiscal year.