Political Slugfest Ensues As INDIA Bloc Says Union Budget 'Copied Congress' Manifesto'

The Congress has sharply criticised Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after she presented the Union Budget 2024-25, labeling it as the 'Congress Manifesto.'

Former Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram took to X and said, "I am glad to know that the Hon'ble FM has read the Congress Manifesto LS 2024 after the election results. I am happy she has virtually adopted the Employment-linked incentive (ELI) outlined on page 30 of the Congress Manifesto."

"I am also happy that she has introduced the Apprenticeship scheme along with an allowance to every apprentice spelt out on page 11 of the Congress Manifesto. I wish the FM had copied some other ideas in the Congress Manifesto. I shall shortly list the missed opportunities," Chidambaram, who has served as finance minister under past governments led by HD Deve Gowda, Inder Kumar Gujral, and Dr. Manmohan Singh, continued his critique by highlighting perceived omissions and areas he felt needed more attention.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also slammed the Centre, stating, "After ten years of denial - where neither the non-biological PM nor his party's Lok Sabha Elections Manifesto would even mention jobs - the Union Government seems to have finally come around to tacitly admitting that mass unemployment is a national crisis that requires urgent attention. It's far too late, and as it turns out, far too little - the Budget speech is more focused on posturing than action."

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "There are many things missing. There was no mention of MNREGA. There was no mention of any serious measures to improve the income of the bottom 40 percent of our population whose income have gone down. There was very little addressing of inequality in our country today."

Congress MP Manickam Tagore remarked, "This Budget has more or less copied the Congress manifesto... The important thing is about the Yuva Nidhi scheme... This government has announced it as Rs 5000 per youngster who will be in the apprenticeship. It shows that this government has copied the ideas of Rahul Gandhi... The 'special category' for Andhra Pradesh has been denied. They are giving a lollipop to Andhra Pradesh."

Other political leaders also weighed in on the budget.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "They want to save the government. It is good that Bihar and Andhra Pradesh got special projects. But Uttar Pradesh, the state that gives prime ministers, were there big announcements for the farmers? Are there provisions for the produce and income of the farmers?"

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav expressed concerns about women's safety and inflation.

"This government brings in schemes but does not pursue them... The main concern regarding women is their safety and this issue has not been addressed... The government does not want to take any steps to control inflation. Purchasing power in rural areas is constantly reducing," she said.

Meanwhile, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee termed the budget as a 'Kursi Bachao Budget (budget to save chair).'