'Kursi Bachao Budget': Oppn says states ruled by it ignored

SLAMS BJP FOR SOPS TO ANDHRA, BIHAR

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The Opposition on Tuesday described the first Union Budget for 202425 of the Modi government’s third term in office as a “Kursi Bachao Budget” driven by political compulsions. The Opposition claimed that the annual Budget ignored opposition-ruled states in a bid to “appease” BJP’s allies.

MPs of the Opposition INDIA bloc have decided to stage a protest in the Parliament premises on Wednesday against the alleged ‘”discriminatory’’ nature of the Union Budget.

The Congress slammed the Budget as being “more focused on posturing than action” and claimed that the “copy-paste government” borrowed heavily from the party’s manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced income tax relief for the middle class, a Rs 2 lakh crore outlay for job creation schemes over the next five years and a spending splurge for states run by her party’s new coalition partners.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi dubbed the Union Budget a “Kursi Bachao Budget” and claimed it makes “hollow promises” to BJP allies at the cost of other states. The former Congress chief also claimed that the Budget was “copy and paste” job of his party’s manifesto for the 2024 polls and previous Budgets.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge termed the Budget “copycat” and alleged that it is not for the progress of the country but to “save the Modi government”.