The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday hit out at the Centre for not mentioning any special benefits for Opposition-ruled states such as West Bengal, Telangana and Punjab. The TMC referred to the union budget as ‘Andhra-Bihar’ and ‘kursi bachao’ budget, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party attempted to keep its allies, JD(U) and TDP, happy.
Trinamool Congress put up a cryptic post on social media striking off Union Budget-2024 and writing ‘Andhra-Bihar Budget’.
U̶n̶i̶o̶n̶-̶B̶u̶d̶g̶e̶t̶ 2̶0̶2̶4̶Andhra-Bihar Budget!#Budget2024
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) July 23, 2024
TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha praised the Centre’s step to reduce customs on three cancer medicines. However, he pointed out that the Opposition-ruled states did not benefit from the budget. “What has been given to Bihar, as a resident it felt good, but you have to pay for it, but it was good. Bihar needed that, and it was in demand as well. You have given for Andhra Pradesh as well, which was expected, but what have you done for Telangana, Punjab and West Bengal?”
#WATCH |#UnionBudget2024 | TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha says, “…The relief that has been given on the medicines of cancer or other life-saving drugs is praiseworthy, it’s a fact. What has been given to Bihar, as a resident it felt good, but you have to pay for it, but it was good.… pic.twitter.com/2ufisITnZe— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2024
Meanwhile, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said it was a ‘kursi bachao’ budget. “The budget was crafted for the benefit of the BJP’s allies. There was nothing for Bengal as it did not vote for BJP.”
#WATCH दिल्ली: केंद्रीय बजट पर TMC सांसद कल्याण बनर्जी ने कहा, “यह ‘कुर्सी बचाओ’ बजट है। जो NDA में है, नीतीश कुमार और चंद्रबाबू नायडू को अपने साथ रखने के लिए यह बजट है, यह बजट देश के लिए नहीं है। बंगाल के लिए तो कुछ भी नहीं है, वे बंगाल को बर्दाश्त नहीं कर सकते हैं, उनका बंगाल… pic.twitter.com/E8jGFo5bpf— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) July 23, 2024
Another TMC leader, Sushmita Dev, said, “First of all please release the funds of Bengal. Rs 1.6 lakh crores are due. Unemployment is something that the government has put under the carpet. The Finance Minister needs to address the issue very seriously. Food inflation is out of control. Price rise is a common man’s issue… How have they prepared a budget when they don’t even know how many people are there in the country? This budget is misplaced with no measure and no yardstick.”
The Union Budget on Tuesday allocated substantial funds for Bihar where JD(U) is in power, including over Rs 26,000 crore for highway development and Rs 11,500 crore for flood mitigation efforts, while TDP-led Andhra Pradesh received significant financial aid, including Rs 15,000 crore for state capital’s development with ongoing commitments for future support.
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