New Delhi: Voicing strong criticism of the NITI Aayog meeting organized by the Union Government after some opposition-governed states decided to boycott it, AAP MP Sandeep Pathak said there is no use of such meetings as the opposition voices and concerns go unheard.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin and Karnataka CM Siddaramiah had announced that they would boycott the meeting alleging that the budget had not addressed their concerns.
Pathak argued that despite MPs being invited to these meetings, discussions often lead to no substantial outcomes.
“MPs are invited to the NITI Aayog meeting, discussions and deliberations take place, but there’s no outcome. The budget reflects the vision of the government… What fundamental or substantial decision has ever been taken in the NITI Aayog meetings? Just one thing that’s discussed in the meeting is how one state can be pushed back. If the government has such a non-cooperative approach, then they need to be told that they are doing wrong, ” Pathak said.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal termed the Union Budget 2024 as discriminatory and announced that the Indian National Congress (INC) Chief Ministers would boycott the NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for July 27.
Taking to X, Congress MP KC Venugopal said, “The Union Budget presented today was extremely discriminatory and dangerous, which completely goes against the principles of federalism and fairness that the Union Government must follow. In protest, INC CMs will be boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for 27th July.”
He further stated that the government’s attitude was completely antithetical to constitutional principles.
He further added, “This government’s attitude is completely antithetical to constitutional principles. We will not participate in an event that is solely designed to hide the true, discriminatory colours of this regime.”
Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc leaders held a protest in the Parliament complex on Wednesday, against the Union Budget, presented on Tuesday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
“Opposition virodhi kursi bachao Budget murda baad” slogans were raised by the INDIA bloc leaders as they protested holding placards in the Parliament building claiming that the Budget is “discriminatory” in nature.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party General Secretary KC Venugopal, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC MP Dola Sen were seen participating in the protest.
“This is a deceitful Budget and it is injustice…,” Congress chief Kharge said speaking to reporters during the protest.
The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticised the Union Budget 2024-25, accusing the Finance Minister of making hollow promises.
Taking to social media platform ‘X,’ he tweeted, “Kursi Bachao Budget. Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states. Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian. Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets.”