'Sapno Ka Saudagar': Opposition leaders decry ‘election-centric' 2023 Budget as some laud tax cuts
3 min read . Updated: 01 Feb 2023, 03:09 PM IST
PremiumWhile some including Congress leader Kari Chidambaram welcomed the newly announced tax cuts, others such as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav insisted that the Budget had given ‘nirasha’ (despair) to people of the country.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Narendra Modi government's final Budget ahead of the general elections. Despite the FM's insistence that the Indian economy was "on the right track", Opposition leaders have remained wary. While some including Congress leader Kari Chidambaram welcomed newly announced tax cuts, others such as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav insisted that the Budget had given ‘nirasha’ (despair) to people of the country.
“There are some good things in Union Budget 2023, but there was no mention of MNREGA, poor rural labour, employment and inflation. Some fundamental questions remained to be answered," said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
“I am a believer in a low tax regime. So, any tax cuts are welcome because giving more money into the hands of the people is the best way to boost the economy," added fellow Congress lawmaker Karti Chidambaram.
Party general secretary KC Venugopal claimed that the newly announced Budget was not addressing the real issues of ‘unemployment and price rise’.
“It only had fancy announcements that were made earlier too but what about implementation? Only insurance companies were benefited from PM Kisan Yojana not farmers," he said.
Congress leader K Suresh meanwhile dubbed it a ‘pro-corporate budget’ that ignored the interests of the common man.
“This budget is for Adani, Ambani, Gujarat."
“There is nothing in the 2023 Budget. It is like ‘Sapno Ka Saudagar’ - nothing comes true when you wake up after a dream. Also, nothing was mentioned about how to control inflation and unemployment," said JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranjan.
"The budget was presented keeping in mind the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and there was nothing special mention for the middle-class people. Looking at the budget, it seems as if it has been created to specially care about the 'Hum Do Humare Do' as it is evident from the significantly reduced highest slab for Income Tax payers. People understand it well whom have they done it for," opined TMC leader Shatrughan Sinha.
“This budget is a mathematical confirmation of the failure of Modi government. This seems like a budget for few states. We hoped tax rebate of up to ₹10 lakhs. In Telangana, we pay good salaries to people so this rebate is of no use to us. Centre announces development projects in either poll-bound states or BJP-governed states. They announced ₹10,000 crore for infrastructure, which infrastructure? They are not clear. They owe us ₹1000 cr and I request Finance Ministry to pay our dues" said BRS leader Kavitha Kalvakuntla.
Meanwhile, Yadav insisted that this was a budget “for the benefit of a few rich people" and would further increases inflation and unemployment.
“The BJP is completing a decade of its budgets, but when it did not give anything to the public earlier, what will it give now? It does not give 'asha' but 'nirasha' to farmers, labourers, youth, women, professionals and the business class," Yadav tweeted in Hindi.
His spouse and newly elected SP lawmaker Dimple Yadav appeared to concur, calling it a ‘budget presented with elections in mind’ that gave some relaxations to the middle class.
“Government hasn't said anything about MSP for farmers, employment and youth. Railways also ignored in this budget. It has been a disappointing budget," she said.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti meanwhile said that the latest budget was the ‘same’ as those coming in for the past eight to nine years. As the PDP chief put it, people who had risen above the poverty level were now falling below the level once again.
“Taxes increased, money not being spent on welfare schemes and subsidies. Tax being collected for some crony capitalists and big businessmen. Public should benefit from taxes but it's breaking their back…Instead of benefitting them (common people), welfare schemes and subsidies are being scrapped," she said.
(With inputs from agencies)
