Kharge also condemned the government for its failure to address concerns about railway safety, conduct a census, and create more job opportunities.
Digital Desk: 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."
Mallikarjun Kharge also took to 'X,' tweeting, "Modi Government's 'copycat budget' could not even copy Congress' justice agenda properly! The Modi Government's budget is distributing half-hearted 'rewadis' to dupe its coalition partners so that the NDA survives. This is not a budget for the 'progress of the country,' it is a 'save Modi government' budget!"
Kharge expressed disappointment with the budget's lack of significant provisions for various segments including youth, farmers, Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes, minorities, middle class, and rural poor. He criticized the absence of a concrete plan for women and accused the government of neglecting pressing issues such as inflation and rural development.
According to him, the term 'poor' seemed to have become mere branding without substantive content.
Kharge also condemned the government for its failure to address concerns about railway safety, conduct a census, and create more job opportunities. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram remarked that the budget had missed opportunities, although he welcomed the adoption of Congress' Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) and Apprenticeship scheme. He expressed a desire for more ideas from the Congress manifesto to be incorporated. Chidambaram also supported the abolition of the Angel Tax, a demand long advocated by the Congress.
In addition to this, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Union Budget, describing it as a strategy to maintain power by highlighting specific projects for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. He questioned the BJP's track record on addressing issues faced by farmers and youth, attributing increased unemployment over the past decade to the government.
Further criticism came from Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, who emphasized the government's failure to address women's safety and control inflation.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury also joined the chorus of disapproval, noting the budget's failure to tackle rising unemployment, inflation, and food prices. He highlighted a reduction in government expenditure as a percentage of GDP, predicting increased hardships for the people as a result.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech, highlighted new initiatives such as airports and medical colleges in Bihar, temple corridors, and special funding for the Rajgir Jain Temple site. Andhra Pradesh received significant financial assistance to address its capital requirements, with an allocation of Rs 15,000 crore for the current fiscal year.
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