Post-Budget LIVE: FM dismissed inflation ‘in 10 words’: Chidambaram in RS
INDIA bloc parties walk out of Rajya Sabha in protest against all states except two being “ignored” in the Budget; Sitharaman terms allegation “outrageous”
INDIA bloc parties, led by the Congress, staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha on Wednesday (July 24) in protest against all states except two being “ignored” in the Budget, an allegation termed “outrageous” by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who said all the states never found a mention in any of the previous Budgets, including those presented by the Congress.
The Opposition MPs staged a protest in Parliament premises over the alleged discrimination against Opposition-ruled states. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi were among those who participated in the protest. Besides Kharge, Sonia and Rahul, several MPs of the Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party, DMK and the Left joined the protest held on the steps leading up to the Makar Dwar of Parliament.
Protesting against the Budget, Kharge said, "This Budget is anti-people, no one has got justice. They have talked about special package but special status has not been given. This is a deceptive Budget and injustice to the people."
The MPs raised placards such as 'We want India budget not NDA budget' and 'NDA betrays India in Budget'.
The decision to protest was taken at a meeting of floor leaders of INDIA bloc parties at the Congress president's residence on Tuesday evening. Congress chief ministers will also boycott the NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for July 27 in protest against the alleged discrimination.
Former finance minister P Chidambaram, initiating discussion on the Budget in the Rajya Sabha, cautioned the government against taking inflation lightly. “Is inflation such a trivial subject (that) you can deal with it casually and dismiss it in 10 words?” he asked. The senior Congress leader also attacked the government for destroying federalism by picking and choosing among states for grant of relief.
During the day, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw cleared the air on the Budget allocation to his department, saying safety is of top priority and Rs 1112.57 cr has been allocated for Kavach.
(With agency inputs)
Follow live updates of reactions on the Budget and also about the proceedings in the Parliament today.
Live Updates
- 24 July 2024 4:54 PM IST
Modi's guarantee in Budget too: Biplab Deb in LS
The BJP on Wednesday dismissed the Congress’s charge of the Union Budget being “discriminatory” towards Opposition-ruled states and asserted that every state and section has been taken care of by the Modi government.
Participating in the general discussion on the budget for 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP from Tripura Biplab Deb said the NDA will be in government till 2047 and will take India to newer heights, while making the country number one economy in the world.
He said the interests of all states and all sections have been taken care of. An additional Rs 4.82 lakh crore share has been allocated for the states, he added.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guarantee is still there, it is there in the Budget also,” he said.
He also hailed the Modi government’s development works in the North East, saying there were only nine airports during the Congress rule but under the Modi government there are 16.
The BJP leader said the prime minister and his entire cabinet visited North East for its development innumerable times, while under the Congress rule only corruption prevailed there.
- 24 July 2024 4:33 PM IST
Hardeep Singh Puri reacts to Congress claims on Budget
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweets: "Some members of Congress Party have suggested that the Congress introduced the idea of the employment schemes that were proposed in the Union Budget 2024-25 by FM Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday. They have latched onto the phrase “employment-linked incentive” and concluded that what the Congress proposed in its so-called Nyay Patra and what the NDA government will deliver are one and the same. The Congress’ proposal was a vaguely worded statement of employment linked incentives for corporates to avail tax credits against additional employment."In comparison, the NDA government has proposed an extensive incentive framework funded a government outlay and linked to enrolment and continued contribution to the EPFO, from first-time employees (Scheme 1) to the labour-intensive manufacturing industry (Scheme 2) to additional employment in all sectors (Scheme 3). Just the scope of Scheme 3 alone dwarfs what the Congress had proposed in its so-called Nyay Patra. More pertinently, these three schemes are backed by a comprehensive skilling programme where 20 lakh youth will be provided outcome-oriented skill training over five years, in alignment with industry needs. Over 4.1 crore jobs will be generated over the next 5 years & Rs.2 lakh crore will be spent on employment, education & skilling."Lastly, one also needs to take into account the “ability to deliver”. The Congress is known for the trifecta of corruption, dynastic politics, and failing to deliver on its promises (which, admittedly, are so fanciful when proposed that they belie common sense and fiscal prudence). In stark contrast, the Modi-led government has an enviable track record of delivery, as demonstrated in the slew of welfare delivery schemes that have achieved saturation or near saturation across all aspects of basic infrastructure and services."Their claim to this idea is like claiming credit for actual poverty alleviation by PM Narendra Modi, just because they coined a term “Garibi Hatao”."Congress can only claim credit for creating and perpetuating the problems we are now trying to solve, i.e. keeping our citizens poor and without access to basic employment and skills for over 65 years!" - 24 July 2024 4:24 PM IST
No word on UP in Budget: SP MP
Samajwadi Party MP Birendra Singh called the Union Budget a “Sarkar Bachao Budget”.
“PM Modi is an MP from Uttar Pradesh [Varanasi seat] but we did not hear a word on Uttar Pradesh in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s speech. The way Uttar Pradesh stopped the BJP from getting a majority, probably it is paying the price for it,” he said.
Singh also called for a rollback of the Agnipath military recruitment scheme.
- 24 July 2024 4:22 PM IST
Selja's word of caution for Nitish, Naidu during Budget discussion
Dubbing the Budget a collection of “jumlas”, senior Congress leader Kumari Selja cautioned NDA members Nitish Kumar and N Chandrababu Naidu that they may celebrate today for getting a large share but it doesn’t take long for time to change.
Selja initiated the discussion on the Budget and questioned how target groups were identified without a caste census.
She took the floor and began by congratulating the finance minister for presenting the budget six times. “As a woman, I congratulate her, and as a Congress MP, I am pleased that she has read our manifesto, which we prepared with great effort.”
She went on to say, “Who is this Budget for? Is it only for two states, or has some consideration been given to the entire country? It doesn't seem like anything beyond these two states or BJP-ruled states has been considered.”
“I would like to caution these two states... Nitish ji has been with us for a long time, serving in 10th Lok Sabha term, and Naidu ji is also very experienced. Do not be swayed by their (government's) words. It may seem today that they have given a lot, but it doesn't take long for the tide to turn. Therefore, I want to caution them (JDU and TDP) as well. They may celebrate today, but it doesn't take long for times to change,” she said.
Selja criticised the budget as “kursi bachao (save your seat) Budget”, “vichlit (uneasy) Budget”, a collection of “jumlas” (rhetorical promises), questioning how target groups of poor, women, farmers and youth were identified without a caste census.
“(LoP in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly demanded a caste census. How can you count the target group if you do not conduct and make the census public?” she questioned the focus on two states, suggesting bias towards BJP-ruled states and asking for clarification from Bihar's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
She also pointed out the declining trust in the government, “People do not trust this Budget, which is why the number of seats fell from 303 to 240.”
Turning to regional disparities, Selja expressed disappointment over the lack of mention for states such as Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir, which are heading towards elections. “It’s sad that even with three ministers from Haryana, the state received nothing.”
On agriculture, she lamented the halving of the agriculture budget and the neglect of the Swaminathan Committee report and MSP promises. “There is a severe agrarian crisis today, yet no attention is given,” she asserted, accusing the government of favouring corporates over farmers.
“While farmers sit in distress, you only support capitalists. Every farmer is in debt,” she said.
Selja criticised the handling of schemes like MNREGA and the government’s failure to mention it in the budget. “MNREGA was a saviour during COVID, but you have forgotten it now. When our time will come, we will ensure a minimum wage of Rs 400 per day,” she said.
Regarding education and health, Selja pointed out the deteriorating quality of primary education and the lack of action on employment. “There are 10 lakh vacancies at the central level, and Haryana alone has 2 lakh vacancies,” she said.
She also highlighted the unfinished Ayushman University project in Haryana, which was supposed to be a cornerstone of healthcare improvement.
Selja criticised the government's focus on renaming schemes rather than implementing effective policies. “You love renaming things. Calling a city ‘Smart City’ doesn’t make it smart,” she remarked, referring to the poor conditions in Faridabad and Gurgaon.
She emphasized, “You had 10 years in Haryana, yet nothing substantial has been done.”
- 24 July 2024 4:15 PM IST
NCP(SP) demonstrates against 'anti-Maharashtra bias' in Budget
The NCP (SP) on Wednesday staged a protest in Mumbai alleging discrimination against Maharashtra in the Union Budget, despite the western state being the highest tax-payer.
NCP (SP) workers led by city unit president Rakhi Jadhav held placards and shouted slogans against the Union government.
“Despite being the highest generator of tax revenue for the exchequer Maharashtra was ignored in the Budget and got nothing in allocations,” Jadhav told reporters.
The NCP (SP) leader wondered whether Maharashtra was discriminated against because of the BJP's debacle in the state in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rejected the Opposition’s charge on Tuesday and claimed “substantial allocations” were earmarked for the state in the annual financial statement.
