INDIA bloc protests against Modi government's budget, calls it 'discriminatory'

Among the leaders who protested are Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress MPs Kalyan Banerjee, Dola Sen, Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh.

Several MPs were seen carrying placards reading, "NDA betrays INDIA in budget."

Sanjay Singh was heard raising the slogan, "Shame on, Modi government."

Why does the Opposition call the budget discriminatory?

While focusing on employment generation and rural development, the two components that supposedly cost the Narendra Modi government an absolute majority in its third consecutive term, the historic seventh Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spent a considerable pie for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, the two states ruled by major allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA, which returned to power with coalition strings attached.

Delivering the Union Budget 2024, Sitharaman announced Special Financial Support for Andhra Pradesh, where Rs 15,000 crore have been directed with additional amounts in coming years.

For Bihar, Sitharaman announced support for the development of an industrial node in Gaya on the Amritsar-Kolkata industrial corridor.

The government will, as the Finance Minister said, support the several road connectivity projects, Patna Purnea Expressway; Buxar Bhagalpur Expressway; Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Vaishali and Darbhanga spars.

An additional tooling bridge over River Ganga at Buxar at a total cost of 26,000 crore was announced.

Opposition's reactions

Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, "'Kursi Bachao' Budget.- Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states. - Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian. - Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets."

Speaking to the reporters, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "People won't benefit until the farmers' issues are resolved and youth get employment."

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday slammed the Modi government's first budget in the third term calling it "directionless" and "visionless".

"This budget is totally directionless, anti-people, and visionless. This budget has only the political mission. I don't see any light in this budget but darkness," the Chief Minister said.