New Delhi

Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge sharply criticized the Union Budget 2024-25, calling it a Kursi Bachao Budget. Gandhi accused the Finance Minister of offering hollow promises that cater only to allies and cronies while neglecting the common people. He described the budget as a mix of empty promises and copy-pasting from past Congress plans and previous budgets.

Kharge, in his criticism, labeled the budget as a copycat effort that failed to address key issues. He claimed that it was merely a strategy to appease coalition partners and keep the NDA government in power. Kharge highlighted the budget’s lack of meaningful plans for youth, farmers, Dalits, Adivasis, and other marginalized groups, criticizing it for not addressing pressing issues like inflation and rural development. He pointed out that the term poor seemed to be used more for political branding rather than substantive aid.

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram noted that while the budget had missed opportunities, he welcomed the inclusion of Congress-backed initiatives like the Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) and the abolition of the Angel Tax. However, he felt more of the Congress manifesto’s ideas should have been incorporated.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also condemned the budget, accusing it of being a ploy to secure power by favoring Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. He criticized the BJP for worsening unemployment over the past decade and questioned their actions for farmers and youth. Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav echoed concerns about women’s safety and inflation, stating the government’s inaction on these critical issues.