Allegations of Bias in Budget 2024: Opposition’s Protest and Criticism

The unveiling of Budget 2024 by the Narendra Modi government has sparked significant controversy. The Opposition, particularly the INDIA bloc, has accused the government of prioritizing NDA allies at the expense of opposition-ruled states.

Key Accusations from the Opposition

Prioritization of NDA Allies: The INDIA bloc, comprising Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party, DMK, and Left parties, alleges that the Budget favors states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, where NDA allies are in power.
Neglect of Opposition-Ruled States: Leaders like Akhilesh Yadav and Priyanka Chaturvedi argue that states governed by opposition parties have been ignored, impacting their development and welfare programs.

Akhilesh Yadav’s Critique

Support Price for Allies, Not Farmers: Akhilesh Yadav criticized the government for providing benefits to NDA partners instead of addressing farmers’ needs, particularly the demand for Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Neglect of Uttar Pradesh: He highlighted that despite being a significant contributor, Uttar Pradesh received minimal benefits from the Budget.

Rahul Gandhi and Congress’s Stand

Deceptive Budget: Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, described the Budget as deceptive, lacking provisions for special status to states and failing to address key issues like inflation and unemployment.

Protests and Reactions

Parliamentary Protests: Opposition MPs protested inside and outside Parliament, with slogans like ‘We want India budget not NDA budget’ and ‘NDA betrays India in Budget’.
Boycott of NITI Aayog Meeting: In a significant move, Congress chief ministers decided to boycott the upcoming NITI Aayog meeting, citing bias in Budget allocations.

Specific Concerns from Various Leaders

Maharashtra’s Exclusion: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi accused the government of ignoring Maharashtra, despite it being a major tax-paying state.
Flood Assistance for Punjab: Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring criticized the lack of flood relief for Punjab.

Government’s Response

Nirmala Sitharaman’s Defense: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the Budget, stating that it was impossible to mention every state and that the allocations were based on need and potential impact.

Public and Political Reactions

Mixed Reactions: While NDA supporters praised the Budget for focusing on development, opposition leaders and some public segments criticized it for being biased and lacking transparency.

The controversy surrounding Budget 2024 highlights the deep political divide in India. As the debate continues, the focus remains on achieving equitable development across all states.