The first budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term has been met with disdain by the newly strengthened opposition. While the Congress has been sharply critical, the INDIA bloc allies are unanimous that this is a “kursi bachao (save the seat)” budget. The term was coined by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, said Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav. But his grouse lay elsewhere.
“It is understandable that they need to save their government and have given special packages to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, but a state like Uttar Pradesh that gives the country its chief ministers, is there anything for the farmers here?” Mr Yadav told reporters this today.
“This is their eleventh budget and it’s strange that people are still alive. The problems that were there before – inflation, unemployment (are still there). If we look at Uttar Pradesh, what is the status of investments? about large numbers, but none of their major projects have been completed,” he added.
Mr Yadav was also scathing about the government’s major skilling program in partnership with the private sector.
“They have created unemployment for ten years. And now they hope to solve that, that too with piecemeal jobs. The youth of the country need stable jobs. They are offering a meager one-year education,” he said .
Ms Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress was devastating. Senior party leader Kalyan Banerjee hit out at the special packages for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, calling it “Kursi Bachao Budget”.
“They have presented the budget for allies that will save their seats. This budget is aimed at keeping their NDA partners Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu happy,” he said.
The epithet “Kursi Bachao” was also used by Rahul Gandhi.
Budget “Bachao Chair”.
– Appeasing Allies: empty promises to them at the expense of other states.
– Appeasing henchmen: benefits for AA without relief for the common Indian.
– Copy and paste: conference manifesto and previous budgets.
—Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 23, 2024
The Congress has also alleged that the government’s announcement on skills has been taken directly from the manifesto. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge called it a ‘nakalchi (copy-paste)’ budget.
“I am happy to know that the Hon’ble FM has read the Congress Manifesto LS 2024 after the election results. I am happy that she has virtually adopted the Employment Related Incentive (ELI) as described on page 30 of the Congress Manifesto… I wish that the FM had copied some other ideas from the Congress manifesto. I will soon list the missed opportunities,” wrote party leader P. Chidambaram on X, formerly Twitter.
Trinamool’s Kalyan Banerjee He also pointed out that there has been nothing for Bengal, where the BJP has lost ground. “This budget is not for India. They have not given anything to Bengal. They cannot tolerate Bengalis. The BJP will be wiped out from Bengal,” he added.
Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD leader Rabdi Devi said the assistance of Rs 26,000 crore allocated to Bihar for development of crucial projects, including road connectivity and infrastructure, is a “jhunjhuna” (child’s rattle).
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced huge packages for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, including infrastructure boost and special financial support.
