Union Budget reflects political bankruptcy of Modi govt, Bengal discriminated again: TMC
Times of India | 23 July 2024Senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh in a post on X said, "This budget should not be labeled as union budget.It is a budget to keep Andhra Pradesh and Bihar happy. To save one's chair and keeping some others in good humour."
He argued that the Modi government had ignored West Bengal and only focused on appeasing specific states to retain political support.
Ghosh emphasized that the Budget failed to address the nation's crucial issues and accused the government of manipulating statistics and rhetoric. The former Rajya Sabha MP described the budget proposals as indicative of the Centre's financial and political bankruptcy.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee echoed this sentiment, warning of a strong public response against the Modi government's continued neglect of Bengal. He stated in Delhi, "The Modi government's continued deprivation of Bengal will face a strong response from the people."
Banerjee made it clear that while TMC does not oppose Budget allocations for states like Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, he condemned the Budget for its supposed vindictive attitude. Banerjee also referred to recent remarks by Suvendu Adhikari about those who did not vote for BJP.
On social media, Banerjee criticized the Finance Minister and the government's approach: "This BUDGET is a complete failure with ZERO WARRANTY, presented by a FAILED FINANCE MINISTER OF A FAILED GOVERNMENT. Instead of tackling urgent issues like unemployment, rising prices and growing inflation, the BJP has crafted a budget to bribe its coalition partners and buy time before the government IMPLODES!"
The Union Budget allocated over Rs 26,000 crore for highway development and Rs 11,500 crore for flood mitigation efforts in Bihar. Additional initiatives for Bihar included new bridges over the Ganga, a new airport, a medical college, and upgrades to Nalanda University and tourist attractions like the Nalanda-Rajgir corridor. Gaya was chosen as the headquarters for the Kolkata-Amritsar corridor, with plans for three new expressways and improved sports infrastructure.
Andhra Pradesh received a significant financial package, including Rs 15,000 crore for developing the state capital. The Budget also committed to completing projects like the Polavaram irrigation project, and it announced grants for the backward regions in three districts of the state. Additionally, over Rs 3 lakh crore were earmarked for women-centric schemes.
The TMC's criticism highlights a growing tension between the West Bengal state government and the central regime, focusing on issues of fiscal allocation and perceived favoritism.
