New Delhi, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s presentation of the Interim Budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 stirred varied opinions from leaders across party lines. As the political landscape gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, here’s a snapshot of who said what about the budgetary proposals.
Positive Responses:
1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi: In a video message, PM Modi praised the budget as “inclusive and innovative.” He emphasized its commitment to strengthening the foundation of a developed India, guaranteeing empowerment for the youth, poor, women, and farmers.
2. Home Minister Amit Shah: Shah commended the budget, outlining its roadmap to achieve PM Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047. He highlighted the milestones achieved by the BJP government in the past decade.
3. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh: Singh hailed the budget, describing it as outlining a vision for a confident, strong, and self-reliant developed India. He noted the budget’s focus on rapid economic transformation and its provisions for diverse sections of society.
4. BJP President JP Nadda: Nadda termed the housing scheme announced in the budget as a “revolutionary step,” emphasizing its far-reaching impact on poverty alleviation and sectoral development.
Critical Voices:
1. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor:Tharoor characterized Sitharaman’s budget speech as one of the shortest on record and found it disappointing, citing a lack of concrete implementation strategies and rhetorical language.
2. Congress Leader Manish Tewari: Tewari expressed concern over the increasing fiscal deficit, highlighting the unfunded extent of the Union Budget. He criticized the budget speech as grandstanding with a backward-looking focus.
3. Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav: Yadav claimed that this budget marks the farewell of the Narendra Modi government, calling it a waste if not aimed at development and for the people.
4. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi:Chaturvedi asserted a significant gap between the sayings and doings of the Central government, particularly noting the budget’s perceived lack of benefits for the poor, women, and youth.
As the nation navigates the aftermath of the budget presentation, the contrasting opinions reflect the diverse expectations and concerns of India’s political landscape. For more in-depth coverage, explore Hindustan Times’ detailed analysis of Budget 2024.
