Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the Union Budget 2024 stating that it will take the country’s villages, poor, and farmers on the path of prosperity. He emphasized the budget’s role in continuing the empowerment of the emerging Neo Middle Class.
PM Modi expressed confidence that the Budget would act as a catalyst in propelling India to become the world’s third-largest economy and laying a robust foundation for ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). The new schemes outlined in the Budget aim to enhance the lives of the middle class, tribals, Dalits, and Backward Classes, he said.
The Prime Minister further said that “a big focus of this Budget is on the nation’s farmers”.
The budget, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, includes a significant allocation of Rs 1.52 lakh crore for the agriculture and allied sectors for 2024-25. This funding is intended to bolster agricultural research, promote sustainable farming practices, enhance production of oilseeds and pulses, and integrate technology into the agricultural landscape.
Despite these announcements, the response from farmers, particularly in Punjab, has been critical. Many farmers argue that the budget has neglected the agricultural sector and failed to address key demands such as a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Farmers in Punjab on Tuesday claimed that the Union Budget “ignored” the farming sector and also remained silent on giving legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP).
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) leader Sarwan Singh Pandher expressed disappointment stating, “It does not have any vision for the agriculture sector.”
Another farm leader Kadian posted on X saying, “No loan waiver, no diversification package, no agro-export, no agro-industrial package and no budget to legalize MSP.”
Opposition slams Union Budget 2024 as politically motivated and biased
The Opposition on Tuesday sharply criticized the Union Budget 2024, labeling it as a “kursi bachao budget” driven by political motives. They alleged that the budget is designed to appease BJP allies while neglecting opposition-ruled states.
The budget presentation by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman included promises of income tax relief for the middle class, a Rs 2 lakh crore outlay for job creation schemes over the next five years, and increased spending for states governed by the BJP’s new coalition partners.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, criticized the budget as a “kursi bachao (save the chair) budget,” asserting that it offers “hollow promises” to BJP allies at the expense of other states. Gandhi further accused the budget of being a “copy and paste” job from his party’s manifesto for the 2024 elections and previous budgets.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed these sentiments, calling the budget “copycat” and alleging that it prioritizes saving the Modi government over national progress. Kharge criticized the budget for lacking revolutionary schemes for Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes, minorities, and the rural poor, suggesting that the term “poor” is used merely for political branding.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also weighed in, branding the Union Budget 2024-25 as “politically biased and anti-poor,” and accusing the Centre of “depriving” her state of necessary funds.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi took a similar stance, dubbing the budget as the “Pradhan Mantri Sarkar Bachao Yojana.” Chaturvedi criticized the government for focusing on its alliance partners in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh while ignoring infrastructure needs in Maharashtra, a major tax-paying state.