Congress Critiques Union Budget: A Political Gimmick?
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Synopsis
On February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her eighth consecutive Budget, which, while celebrated by some, faced intense criticism from Congress leaders labeling it as a political gimmick lacking vision. They argue it fails to address pressing economic issues.
Key Takeaways
- Budget criticized as visionless
- Congress leaders express discontent
- Claims of economic discrimination
- Concerns over job creation and inflation
- Accusations of political gimmickry
New Delhi, Feb 1 (NationPress) The eighth consecutive Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, lasting over 77 minutes, brought joy to the general public but faced severe backlash from the Congress party, which labeled it “visionless” and a “poll-related gimmick.”
Prominent Congress figures, including Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal, criticized the Budget as a “mundane document with minor tinkering” that will fail to rejuvenate India's struggling economy.
Jairam Ramesh, responsible for Congress communications, described the Budget as the Centre “discriminating” against its key allies – JD(U) and TDP. He pointed out that Bihar received a “budget bonanza” while Andhra Pradesh was “cruelly ignored.”
On X, Ramesh commented, “It is natural since an election is due there later in the year. But why has the other pillar of the NDA, namely Andhra Pradesh, been so cruelly ignored?”
In subsequent tweets, he noted, “The economy suffers from four crises. However, the Budget does NOTHING to address these illnesses. The only relief has been for income tax payers. What actual impact this will have on the economy remains to be seen.”
KC Venugopal criticized the Centre for its “inefficient” governance over the past 11 years, asserting that the Modi administration has merely attempted to deceive the public with empty slogans, lacking any vision or support for the poor and marginalized.
“No vision for job creation, nothing to improve India’s investment climate, no MSP guarantee for farmers and no strategy to counter the massive inflation destroying budgets of middle-class households,” he remarked.
He added that the Budget was another attempt to undermine MGNREGA, as the Centre failed to boost the budget allocated for the program.
“The Budget has sent a message that this government is only capable of indulging in election-related gimmicks for their politics, but cannot address the severe economic distress being experienced across the country today,” he concluded.
