New Delhi [India]: CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar expressed his disappointment with the Union Budget 2024 and said that this is an anti-federal budget and Kerala did not get anything. He alleged that the budget was prepared arbitrarily to save the alliance and should be scrapped and reforms should be introduced based on federal structure.
CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar said, “This Budget is just to save their government, and nothing more than that. A few states received more but we have no issues with that, it is alright.
Bihar and Andhra Pradesh should indeed get funds but there is federalism in the country. But this is an anti-federal Budget. The system of preparing the Budget arbitrarily should be scrapped and a new system should be brought in, in the days to come – this is what we demand. Every state should be considered. Kerala didn’t get anything. This is the worst budget of independent India.”
He further said that the Kerala government had given a proposal for a project but it did not get even 10 percent to start working on it.
Earlier Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused the Centre of neglecting Kerala and said that the budget presented in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman displayed a discriminatory attitude towards the states.
Vijayan added that while putting forth the preface of 8 goals of national importance, the finance minister has failed to honour the concerns of most states, including Kerala.
He stated that though it is not intended here to oppose any packages announced for any state in the budget, it is pertinent to mention that the complete neglect of any state is also unacceptable.
“Such an attitude by the centre is detrimental to the progress of states like Kerala. Refusal to consider the longstanding demands raised by Kerala echoes total disrespect to the people of the state,” said the Kerala CM.
Nirmala Sitharaman presented her record seventh consecutive Union Budget 2024-25 on Tuesday during the Budget Session of Parliament. She makes history as the first finance minister to present seven consecutive budget speeches, surpassing former Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s record of six consecutive budgets as finance minister between 1959 and 1964.
FM Sitharaman, in her seventh consecutive Union Budget for 2024-25, outlined key priorities aimed at fostering economic growth and creating ample opportunities. The priorities include productivity and resilience in agriculture, employment, and skilling and services.