The first budget of the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been received by the newly-long opposition with disdain. While the Congress has been fast in its criticism, its India block ally has been unanimous that it is a “Save Kursi (Bachao Kursi)” budget. The word has been agreed by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinmool Congress, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. But his Grause lay somewhere else.
“It is understandable that they have to save their government and have given special package to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, but a state like Uttar Pradesh which gives the country to its Prime Ministers, is there anything for farmers here?” Mr. Yadav told reporters today.
“This is their 11th budget and it is strange that people are still alive. Inflation, unemployment (still there). If we see Uttar Pradesh, what is the investment situation? They talk about the large number, but no one of their big projects is over,” they said.
Mr. Yadav was also afraid of the government’s big ticket skilling program in collaboration with the private sector.
He said, “They created unemployment for 10 years. And they hope to solve it now, that too with jobs in bits and pieces. The youth of the country need stable jobs. They are offering one year training,” he said.
Ms. Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress was afraid. Senior party leader Kalyan Banerjee made a swipe in special packages for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, called it a “chair save budget”.
He said, “He has presented a budget for colleagues that will save their seats. This budget has to keep his NDA partners happy Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu.”
The “Save Kursi” Eputet was also used by Rahul Gandhi.
“Save the chair” budget.
– Appeal Associate: Khokhale promises them at the cost of other states.
– Appeal Cronis: AA benefits with no relief for common Indians.
– Copy and paste: Congress manifesto and previous budget.
– Rahul Gandhi (@Rulgandhi) July 23, 2024
The Congress has also alleged that its manifesto has been removed directly to the government’s leading skilling announcement. The party’s head Mallikrajun Kharge called it a “copy-paste” budget.
“I am happy to know that the Honorable FM has read the Congress manifesto LS 2024 after the election results. I am happy that he adopted the incentive (Ellie) related to the employment mentioned on page 30 of the Congress manifesto … I think FMs felt that FM mimicked some other views in Congress’s Manifesto.
Kalyan Banerjee of Trinmool also said that there is nothing for Bengal, where the BJP has lost the ground. He said, “This budget is not for India. They have not given anything to Bengal. They cannot tolerate Bengalis. BJP will be erased from Bengal.”
Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD leader Rabdi Devi said that the support of Rs 26,000 crore allocated to Bihar for the development of important projects including road connectivity and infrastructure is “Jhunjhun” (child’s rattle).
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitarman announced huge packages for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, including an increase in infrastructure and special financial assistance.
