Monday, 23 December 2024
Monday, 23 December 2024
Rahul Gandhi: ‘Kursi Bachao Budget’
In a post on X, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi dubbed the budget as a “Kursi Bachao” or “save the chair” Budget. The Budget, he claimed, was designed to “appease allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states”, “appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian,” and “copy and paste” of “Congress manifesto and previous Budgets”.
P Chidambaram: Angel tax abolished
Congress leader P Chidambaram posted on X, “I was pleased to hear that the FM will abolish the Angel Tax. Congress has pleaded for the abolition for many years and most recently in the Congress Manifesto on page 31.” The move is being regarded as a boost to the corporate sector.
Rabri Devi: ‘Jhunjhuna’ budget for Bihar
Rashtriya Janta Dal leader Rabri Devi told reporters that the amount allotted to Bihar is a 'jhunjhuna' toy. The Centre on Tuesday proposed an outlay of Rs 26,000 crore for various road projects in Bihar in the Union Budget. “Murders and thefts are happening in the state. Labourers are not getting their wages. Youth are not getting employment and farmer issues persist... Rs 26000 crore allotted to Bihar is a 'jhunjhuna’”.
Dilip Jaiswal: ‘Tight slap’ to opposition
Bharatiya Janata Party minister Dilip Jaiswal told reporters, "It's a tight slap on them (opposition) by the Central Govt. Rs 26,000 crores have been given for the highway, those districts which do not have medical colleges, new medical colleges will be opened on the proposal of Bihar govt. Two new bridges are to be built on river Ganga, also a powerplant of 2400 MW capacity will be established...We had never dreamed that the Central govt thinks this much about Bihar. I would like to thank the Central govt...The opposition knows that special state status has some technical point, but they won't be able to digest that Bihatr has got even more than that."
Mohan Yadav: MP to go along with Viksit Bharat
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav told ANI, "The budget that was presented based on the resolution of Viksiit Bharat, I congratulate all for that. I would like to congratulate FM Nirmala Sitharaman whose intentions to control inflation are visible... Under the leadership of PM Modi India will create its new image. This budget will give the opportunity to Madhya Pradesh to go along with Viksit Bharat."
Yogi Adityanath: Budget is ‘going to help Uttar Pradesh’
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath told ANI, "Under the guidance of PM Modi, in the new parliament of the country, the Finance Minister has laid down the general budget of the country which is -inclusive, development-oriented and one which will fulfil the aspirations of 140 cr people. In this general budget, there is unlimited potential for development. In this budget, Rs 1,52,000 cr has been given for the prosperity of the farmers and also more than Rs 3 lakh crore for women's empowerment. These are definitely going to help Uttar Pradesh... The new tax slabs announced in the budget are welcoming."
Kangana Ranaut: ‘We are very happy with the budget’
BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Kangana Ranaut told reporters outside parliament, "Relief fund has been promised for Himachal Pradesh. We are very happy with the budget..."
Kiren Rijiju: ‘If the opposition has criticised the budget means it is a very good budget’
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju told reporters outside parliament, "... This is a dream budget for all sections especially for youth and women... Capital expenditure of more than Rs 11 lakh crore has been allocated... Announcements for Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and North-East will give a boost to the economy of Eastern India... Announcements for skilling and employment generation are historic... Support schemes for women are appreciated... Banking services in the northeast have been taken care of. Financial mainstreaming of the northeast will be done... PM Modi's dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047 is clearly reflected in the budget... If the opposition has criticised the budget means it is a very good budget... All sectors have been covered and it is a growth-oriented budget... You can see the tax rebates for the middle class... Bihar's floods are not limited to Bihar, they are an issue of the country... Why is the opposition rattled at the grants given to Andhra Pradesh."
Jairam Ramesh: ‘Mass unemployment is a national crisis’
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "After ten years of denial -- where neither the non-biological PM nor his party's Lok Sabha Elections Manifesto would even mention jobs -- the Union Government seems to have finally come around to tacitly admitting that mass unemployment is a national crisis that requires urgent attention, “ he said on X. "It's far too late, and as it turns out, far too little - the Budget speech is more focused on posturing than action.”
The Congress has also accused Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman of taking a leaf out of their 2024 Lok Sabha polls manifesto with the announcement of an internship program.
Ramesh said that “in their (government’s) trademark style”, the scheme has been designed to “grab headlines with arbitrary targets” rather than a programmatic guarantee.
The Finance Minister has announced that the government will launch a scheme to provide internship opportunities to 1 crore youth in 500 top companies over five years.
Manickam Tagore: Budget ‘copied the Congress manifesto
Congress MP Manickam Tagore told reporters, "This Budget has more or less copied the Congress manifesto... The important thing is about the Yuva Nidhi scheme... This government has announced it as Rs 5000 per youngster who will be in the apprenticeship. It shows that this government has copied the ideas of Rahul Gandhi... The 'special category' for Andhra Pradesh has been denied. They are giving a lollipop to Andhra Pradesh,"
BankBazaar CEO Adhil Shetty: Affordable housing still an issue
Adhil Shetty, the CEO of BankBazaar.com, said on Tuesday that affordable housing remains a critical issue in major cities. He mentioned that the earlier housing scheme launched under PM Awas Yojana has exhausted its funds and many private developers' projects are being stalled due to financial constraints. "Many new housing developments are targeting higher price ranges. With the govt focus still remaining aligned to affordable housing it may prompt developers to refocus on affordable housing options and increase the housing supply," he posted on X.
CII President Sanjiv Puri: ‘It is an extremely good budget’
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) President Sanjiv Puri posted on X, “There is a lot of focus on 'ease of doing business', a lot of areas are getting simplified... Very importantly a comprehensive paper on next generation reforms to look at all the factor costs. These are very strong statements... It touches upon many areas that have come in the form of suggestions that members of the CII had presented. This is a very strong message for the industry and all the stakeholders of the economy. It is an extremely good budget. A lot of investments and yet the fiscal glide path being better than what was anticipated at 4.9%.”
Neeraj Kumar: Bihar budget is satisfactory
JDU leader Neeraj Kumar posted on X, "It's obvious to have expectations from the Union Budget. As Niti Aayog considers mountainous region (for special state status) when 1990 to 2002, there was mountainous region in the state as Jharkhand was with Bihar, tribal population was substantial, why no one was worried about special state status? 26,000 crores given for roadways is a satisfactory news. To make Bihar is not just a resolution of our party, PM Modi has also promised us...."
Ajay Rai: Budget is misleading
UP Congress President Ajay Rai says, "... If the main things come forward, the government will be exposed. The government is mistaken and is showing off... This budget has nothing and is merely misleading."
Pappu Yadav: No special package for ‘kingmaker’ Nitish Kumar
Independent MP from Bihar, Pappu Yadav took to X on Tuesday, stating, “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.”
Jyotiraditya Scindia: Budget will make India ‘Atmanirbhar’
Union Minister and BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia posted on X, "This budget is futuristic. This will determine India's path to becoming 'Aatmanirbhar'. All sectors including agriculture, rural development, health care, technology, and education have been considered.”
Shashi Tharoor: ‘No mention of MGNREGA’
“'It is an underwhelming budget. I didn't hear anything about the key issues facing the common man. There is no mention of MNREGA, and insufficient mention of steps taken to improve the income of a common person,” Congress MP Shashi Tharoor told reporters outside parliament.
Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy: ‘We are happy’
TDP leader Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy told ANI, "We are happy and welcoming the budget announcement by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Jagan Mohan Reddy went to Delhi to damage the state's image, whereas Chandrababu Naidu went to Delhi twice after assuming power to seek financial assistance for the state's welfare and development. Andhra Pradesh is receiving 15,000 crores as a special package for the development of the state."
Kunal Ghosh: “It is a budget to keep Andhra Pradesh and Bihar happy.”
Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh in a post on X said, "This budget should not be labeled as union budget. It is a budget to keep Andhra Pradesh and Bihar happy. To save one's chair and keeping some others in good humour."
Accusing the Modi government of neglecting West Bengal and replicating successful social welfare schemes pioneered by the Mamata Banerjee administration, Ghosh emphasised that the Budget failed to address the nation's core issues and merely manipulated statistics and rhetoric.
