Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi minced no words in a hard-hitting speech in the Lower House and ripped apart the Union Budget 2024.
This speech of the Congress MP on the opening day of the Budget Session of the 18th Lok Sabha dismantled the Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, bringing out issues of crony capitalism and discrimination against opposition-run states.
Gandhi started off with a note of history; Sitharaman is the first time any Indian FM has presented the seventh consecutive budget. The record was held by former PM Morarji Desai.
He quickly turned to his criticisms and claimed that the budget was not all-inclusive and reflected an apparent bias towards BJP-ruled states. “This budget is not for all Indians. It seems designed to benefit only a select few,” he asserted.
He pointed out that Sitharaman’s speech focused on projects in only two states—both ruled by the BJP—while leaving out many more significant allocations for those ruled by opposition parties. “The discrimination is brazen,” said Gandhi. “It’s as if the other states aren’t important for this government.”
The Congress leader said that equitable distribution of resources was needed immediately, and censured the government over the handling of economic policies, alleging that they did not benefit the common man. “The gap between the rich and poor is increasing. This budget does nothing in this direction,” he said and drew applause from his party members and allies.
Discussions in the Upper House, Rajya Sabha, were cast under a mournful shadow due to the tragic death of students in a coaching institute in Delhi. The budget session is scheduled for 16 sittings and will wind up on August 12.
The budget presentation by Finance Minister Sitharaman on July 23 was the first by the BJP-led NDA government since its re-election in June and elicited mixed responses.
The Congress charged it with discrimination against the states when already the government was under scrutiny for its approach toward federal relations and economic management.
Rahul Gandhi’s address set the tone for what is already billed as a contentious budget session. Opposition members will take turns challenging the government’s fiscal policies and priorities at every turn.
