The Opposition has strongly criticized the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, calling it a “kursi bachao budget” driven by political compulsions. They claim the budget ignores opposition-ruled states to appease BJP allies and heavily borrows from the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls. Key opposition figures argue that the budget lacks concrete action and instead focuses on superficial promises.
BulletsIn
- “Kursi Bachao Budget”: Opposition labels the Union Budget as a political maneuver to secure BJP’s allies.
- Congress Critique: Congress accuses the budget of being a “copy-paste” of their manifesto and lacking genuine action.
- Income Tax Relief: Budget announces relief for the middle class and a Rs 2 lakh crore allocation for job creation over the next five years.
- Rahul Gandhi’s Take: Rahul Gandhi calls the budget “hollow promises” and claims it favors BJP allies over other states.
- Kharge’s Allegations: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticizes the budget for superficial measures and neglecting real progress.
- Youth and Employment: Kharge points out limited announcements for youth job creation and criticizes previous unfulfilled job promises.
- Farmer and Rural Issues: Kharge argues the budget offers only superficial solutions for farmers and rural wages.
- Jairam Ramesh’s Criticism: Ramesh claims the budget acknowledges unemployment but focuses more on posturing than real action.
- State Discrimination: Congress MPs from Punjab and Maharashtra protest the budget for ignoring their states.
- Other Opposition Leaders: Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, and Priyanka Chaturvedi criticize the budget for political bias and neglecting key states like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
