28 July 2024: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh has accused the government of fostering hatred towards Dalits, tribals, and minorities. His allegations came during his participation in the Budget discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Singh criticized recent directives from BJP-ruled states requiring shop owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names. He questioned the rationale behind such measures, suggesting they were designed to create societal divisions.
“I want to ask the government whether the 10 crore street vendors do not contribute to the economy. They pay tax to the government… you asked street vendors to display their nameplates in front of their establishments… (and inform) whether you are Hindu, Muslim, Dalit, backward or tribal,” Singh stated, as per a report by the Indian Express.
He further condemned the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, labeling it as anti-farmer, anti-youth, and anti-businesses. Singh argued that the budget failed to benefit any section of society and criticized the government for using investigative agencies to target opposition leaders.
Independent member Kapil Sibal also voiced concerns about the rising unemployment in the country. Citing an International Labour Organization (ILO) report, Sibal highlighted that 83 percent of India’s youth are unemployed. He emphasized the need for a clear roadmap to address this crisis, which he found lacking in the current budget.
Trinamool Congress member Dola Sen argued for reducing the tax burden on the middle class while increasing taxes on billionaires. Meanwhile, YSRCP member V Vijaysai Reddy called for special status for Andhra Pradesh, pointing out that the budget only provided for a Rs 15,000 crore loan.
The debate saw contributions from other political figures as well, including AIADMK’s M Thambidurai, BJP’s Bhagwat Karad, and Congress member Akhilesh Prasad Singh, reflecting a broad spectrum of perspectives on the Union Budget and its implications for different segments of Indian society.
The Supreme Court had recently ordered an interim stay on the directives requiring name displays, a move welcomed by many as a necessary intervention to maintain social harmony.
