New Delhi, July 24: The INDIA bloc is set to stage marathon protests in and outside Parliament today, condemning the 2024 Union Budget for alleged discrimination against opposition-ruled states. This decision was finalized at a high-level meeting hosted by Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Tuesday evening, stated NDTV.
The meeting saw the participation of prominent leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Pramod Tiwari, Gaurav Gogoi, Sharad Pawar, Sanjay Raut, Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, TR Baalu, Mahua Maji, Raghav Chadha, Sanjay Singh, John Brittas, KC Venugopal, and Jairam Ramesh.
“The concept of a budget has already been destroyed by this year’s Union Budget. They have completely discriminated against most of the states. So, the general sentiment of the INDIA bloc meeting was we have to protest against this,” said Mr. Venugopal following the meeting. He later expressed on social media that the budget was “extremely discriminatory and dangerous,” going against the principles of federalism and fairness.
In line with their protest, Congress chief ministers will also boycott the NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for July 27. Mr. Venugopal accused the government of being “antithetical to Constitutional principles” and said they would not participate in an event designed to conceal the regime’s true, discriminatory nature.
On Tuesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget for 2024-25, marking her seventh consecutive budget presentation, surpassing former Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s record. This budget is the first under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term in office. During her speech, Ms. Sitharaman noted that the country’s inflation remains stable and is moving towards 4%, with core inflation at 3.1%.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the budget on social media, describing it as the “#BudgetForViksitBharat,” ensuring inclusive growth and paving the way for a developed India.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, speaking with NDTV, claimed that “no one with a sane mind” would criticize the 2024 Union Budget. He emphasized that the budget lays the strongest-ever foundation for ‘atmanirbhar’ Bharat, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047.
Ms. Sitharaman highlighted several key points in the budget, including rewards for key NDA allies, tax relief for new taxpayers, and a focus on job creation for youth. The budget introduced changes to the tax regime, increasing the standard deduction in the new tax regime from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 and revising tax slabs to benefit a broader range of income groups. Salaried employees can now save up to Rs 17,500 in income tax under the new slabs.
Furthermore, the budget announced a major benefit for new professionals entering the workforce, with the government providing one month’s salary as a Provident Fund contribution for first-time employees, estimated to benefit 210 lakh youngsters. Additional measures include raising the exemption limit for capital gains on some financial assets to Rs 1.25 lakh per year and abolishing angel tax for all classes of investors.
The budget also earmarked significant projects for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, states whose political leaders recently aligned with the BJP to secure a parliamentary majority. For Bihar, the budget outlines the development of expressways and a power plant, while Andhra Pradesh will see infrastructure projects prioritized, including substantial financial support for capital development.
