Parliament Budget Session 2024 Highlights: Opposition blasts Centre over major Budget allocations for Bihar, Andhra Pradesh

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Congress leader and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi slammed the Centre and called the Budget a “Kursi Bachao Budget”.

In a post on X, he stated, “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.”

On the major allocation of Budget for the development of Andhra Pradesh’s capital Amaravati, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Babu thanked the Centre for committing towards his state in Budget 2024, saying the “support will go a long way towards rebuilding Andhra Pradesh”.

In a tweet, the CM thanked PM Modi and Nirmala Sitharaman “for recognising the needs of our state and focusing on a Capital, Polavaram, industrial nodes and development of backward areas in AP in the union budget of FY 24-25. This support from the Centre will go a long way towards rebuilding Andhra Pradesh. I congratulate you on the presentation of this progressive and confidence-boosting budget.”

On lion’s share allocation of Budget for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “Directionless, anti-people, no vision, only political mission is there. I don’t see any light, it is dark…They make tall claims and make promises during elections. But after they get votes, they forget Darjeeling, Kalimpong…People in the hills of Darjeeling should remember this. Let Sikkim get things, we have no objection but keeping Darjeeling deprived is not right…This Budget is anti-people, anti-poor and not for the common people. This is a Budget to appease one party. This is a Budget full of political biases.”

On allocation for Bihar in Union Budget 2024 and denial of special category status to the state, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, “…I have continuously spoken for this (special status), I told them as well (NDA). I told them to give us either a special status or a special package…As a follow-up, they have announced aid for a lot of things…We were speaking of special status and a lot of people said that the provision for special status has been done away with much earlier. So, instead of that, aid should be given for helping Bihar. They have now started it…”

Union Budget 2024-25: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, “This budget is more for just two people…They (BJP govt) make a lot of promises but nothing happens…”

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, “No INDIA alliance governments got anything. No opposition parties got anything including Karnataka. It is unfortunate and I never expected this from FM Nirmala Sitharaman.”

Pointing out that the Union Budget 2024 did not address the issues of increasing unemployment, inflation and food prices, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, “The government expenditure as per GDP has decreased. The economy will contract so the problem of the people will increase… Subsidies have been decreased… The economic activity has to be increased to increase the employment generation… The incentives to the employers will not increase the employment generation opportunities…”

After the Union Budget was presented. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said, “It’s a very progressive budget and the most youth-centric budget the country has ever seen. The thrust of this budget is employment generation, the spirit is to empower the young with skills and give them employment opportunities. The historic internship scheme that has been announced will give opportunities to youth to upskill their skill set.. This is going to create a job revolution in the country… This budget has taken care of protecting India‘s food and energy security… It has taken care of farmers, youth, and women. It has given a lot of focus on fast-paced economic growth and employment generation…”

Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD leader Rabdi Devi said that the announcement of Rs 26,000 crore of support allocated to Bihar for the development of crucial projects including road connectivity and infrastructure is a “jhunjhuna”.

Speaking to ANI, Rabdi Devi said, “The flood situation displaced so many people, many lost their homes and precious belongings in the floodwaters after the rain. Murders and thefts are happening in the state. Labourers are not getting their wages. Youth are not getting employment and farmer issues persist.”

On Union Budget 2024-25, PM Modi said, “In this Budget, the government has announced ‘Employment Linked Incentive scheme. This will help generate many employment opportunities. Under this scheme, the government will give the first salary to those who are newly entering the workforce. Youth from villages will be able to work in the country’s top companies under the apprenticeship program.”

In response to the presentation of the Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, expressing his satisfaction with certain aspects of the Budget, noted that the portion about employment generation was taken directly from the Congress Manifesto.

Chidambaram highlighted that the finance minister seems to have taken inspiration from the Congress Manifesto, which the party had brought out for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In a post on X, he wrote, “I am happy she has virtually adopted the Employment-linked incentive (ELI) outlined on page 30 of the Congress Manifesto. I am also happy that she has introduced the Apprenticeship scheme along with an allowance to every apprentice spelt out on page 11 of the Congress Manifesto. I wish the FM had copied some other ideas in the Congress Manifesto. I shall shortly list the missed opportunities.”

“There is an English proverb which says that the tail wags the dog, and that’s the political message of this Budget. It has political compulsions written all over it,” said Congress MP Manish Tewari on Union Budget 2024.

On the announcements made for Bihar in Union Budget 2024, Independent MP Pappu Yadav said, “…They are saying that they will give 4 cr jobs, how many jobs have you given in last 10 years? What about the issue of migration from Bihar?… Nitish Kumar is a kingmaker but you didn’t get the special package… Now you are saying that don’t give us special state status but a package, why are you begging?… Talk about special state status, no central university has been announced. You don’t need to withdraw support, just leave the cabinet, I think Nitish Kumar is a serious person.”

In a strongly worded statement, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh showed disappointment in Sitharaman’s announcement on Data and Statistics and said, “”It is highly disappointing that the Finance Minister’s announcement on Data and Statistics makes no mention of releasing funds for the decadal Population Census that was supposed to have taken place in 2021, but has still not been conducted. This is the first time since Independence that the Government has failed to conduct a Census on time. The consequences on the State’s administrative capabilities are serious – one example being the 10-12 crore individuals who have been excluded from the ambit of the National Food Security Act. It also means that the Government will likely continue to avoid a Socio-Economic Caste Census, despite calls from its own NDA partners for the same.”

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “Budget for FY25 to provide Rs 1.48 lakh crore for education, employment and skill.”

During the Union Budget presentation, Nirmala Sitharaman announced that “One month wage will be given to all persons newly enterinf workforce in all sectors.”

Union Budget’s focus is on jobs, skilling and MSMEs. The Budget will focus on five schemes for youth, said Nirmala Sitharaman.

Delhi minister Atishi on Tuesday said that AAP expects the Delhi government to receive Rs 20,000 crore from its share of taxes. “We are hoping that Rs 20,000 crore from the tax share will be given to the Delhi government. Delhi people should receive 10 per cent of the Rs 2 lakh crore income tax and Rs 25,000 crore central share of GST that they pay,” she said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, “Over the years, we have learnt to not have high expectations from this government’s budgets. We will have to see what they come up with.”

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget 2024 on Tuesday.

The Parliament, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, reconvened for the second day on Tuesday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting the Budget 2024 shortly.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is all set to present the seventh consecutive Budget in the Parliament today.

Ahead of the Budget presentation, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, arrived at the Parliament.

Ahead of the Union Budget 2024 presentation, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday said, “The PM through the Budget will help the ‘crorepatis’ who are close to him. The middle class and the sincere taxpayers will not get anything except hollow promises.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the Parliament ahead of the Union Budget 2024 presentation.

Ahead of the Budget presentation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached the Parliament on Tuesday morning.

Ahead of the Union Budget presentation, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi reached the Parliament and said, “The Budget will help in the further economic growth of the country.”

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet in the national capital ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget for the 2024-25 financial year. The meeting to approve the Budget is scheduled to be begin at 10.15 AM.

Karnataka Congress including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state Home Minister G Parameshwara held protests at the Gandhi statue outside Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru against alleged arbitrary actions taken by ED officials.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for the 2024-25 financial year in Parliament at 11 AM today. This will be her seventh Budget speech and the first in the third term of the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.