Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday called the seventh budget 2024-25 a “disappointing budget” and said that they have provided special allocation to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh just to appease their allies JDU and TDP so that they can save the government.
After finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget at the Parliament, the Congress president said, “They made the budget to appease just one or two people (JDU and TDP) so that they can save their government.”
Accusing the BJP-led Centre of neglecting other states in their budget Kharge said that there are some regions that 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,” he added
It is pertinent to mention that BJP won 240 seats in Lok Sabha polls and formed the government with its allies TDP (16 seats) and JD (U) (12 seats).
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.”
Kharge pointed out the recent railway accidents and said that the NDA government has made a very weak railway budget. “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.”
“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,” he added.
After finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget at the Parliament, the Congress president said, “They made the budget to appease just one or two people (JDU and TDP) so that they can save their government.”
Accusing the BJP-led Centre of neglecting other states in their budget Kharge said that there are some regions that 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,” he added
It is pertinent to mention that BJP won 240 seats in Lok Sabha polls and formed the government with its allies TDP (16 seats) and JD (U) (12 seats).
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.”
Kharge pointed out the recent railway accidents and said that the NDA government has made a very weak railway budget. “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.”
“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,” he added.
Earlier, in a tweet, Kharge said, “Nothing has been said about Census and caste census, whereas this is the fifth budget which is being presented without Census! This is a shocking and unprecedented failure – which is against democracy and the Constitution! On 20 May 2024, i.e. during the elections, Modi ji claimed in an interview that ‘We already have a 100-day action plan ‘…”