Reaction of opposition leaders on the budget.
The opposition leaders budget 2024, The Finance Minister made several big announcements while presenting the country’s General Budget 2024. This time in the budget, announcements were made about employment and skills, farmers and many development schemes. Immediately after the presentation of the budget, the leaders of the opposition parties took a dig at the government. Congress alleged that this time the budget speech has been more focused on show-off. Apart from this, Pappu Yadav asked how many jobs has the government given so far in 10 years? At the same time, Akhilesh Yadav accused the Modi government of increasing unemployment.
What did Akhilesh Yadav say on the budget?
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav said that ‘If the government has to be saved, then it is a good thing that Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have been linked with a special scheme. They have increased unemployment in the country in the last 10 years.’ After Budget 2024, SP supremo Akhilesh also said that unless the issues of farmers are resolved and employment is not ensured for the youth, people will not benefit.
Pappu Yadav asked a question to the government
Reacting to the budget, independent MP from Purnea Pappu Yadav said that the government is saying that it will provide four crore jobs but how many jobs has it provided in the last 10 years? What is there to stop migration from Bihar? Nitish Kumar is the kingmaker but you did not get the status of a special state. Why are you begging? Bihar has not got any central university. You do not need to withdraw support from the Centre, just call back your ministers. Yadav said, ‘I think Nitish Kumar is a serious person.’
Congress’s P. Chidambaram made a big claim
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday took a dig at the announcement of the internship scheme in the Union Budget and said that he was happy that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman read out the manifesto of the main opposition party after the Lok Sabha elections. Finance Minister Sitharaman has announced the Pradhan Mantri Internship Scheme in the Union Budget-2024-25, under which the youth will get a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 along with internship. Congress had promised the right to apprenticeship in its manifesto released for the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, under which it had promised to give Rs 8500 every month for one year along with training to unemployed youth holding diploma and degree. Congress had also named this program ‘First Job Pakki’.
Former Finance Minister Chidambaram posted on ‘X’, ‘I am happy to know that the Hon’ble Finance Minister has read the Congress Lok Sabha 2024 manifesto after the election results. I am also happy that he has virtually adopted the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) mentioned on page 30 of the Congress manifesto.’ He says, ‘I am also happy that he has introduced the Apprenticeship Scheme along with the allowance for every apprentice mentioned on page 11 of the Congress manifesto. I wish the Finance Minister had copied some other ideas in the Congress manifesto. I will list the missed points shortly.’
Government has accepted that unemployment is a national crisis: Congress
Congress on Tuesday claimed that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech was more focused on showmanship and the central government has admitted after 10 years of denial that unemployment is a national crisis which needs immediate attention. Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh also said that the internship scheme announced by the government is based on the promise of the right to apprenticeship made in the Congress manifesto for this Lok Sabha election, under which it promised to give Rs 8500 per month for one year along with training to diploma and degree holders unemployed youth. Congress also named this program ‘Pehli Naukri Pakki’. The government said on Tuesday that it will launch three employment-related schemes. Presenting the Union Budget for 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government will encourage 30 lakh youth entering the job market by contributing one month’s PF (Provident Fund).
He said that a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 will be given under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Internship Scheme’. Ramesh posted on ‘X’, ‘The Finance Minister has taken a cue from the Congress’ Nyaya Patra-2024, in which its ‘Internship’ program is clearly based on the Congress’ proposed apprenticeship program, which was called ‘First Job Pakki’. However, in its usual style, the scheme is designed to grab headlines, with an arbitrary target (one crore internships) instead of a guarantee for all diploma holders and graduates. ‘ He claimed, ‘After 10 years of denial, it seems that the central government has finally come forward to quietly admit that mass unemployment is a national crisis that needs immediate attention. ‘ Ramesh said that it is too late by now and the budget speech seems to be more focused on show than taking steps.
Shatrughan Sinha praised this move
TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha says, “…the relief given on cancer medicines or other life saving medicines is commendable, this is the truth. What has been given to Bihar, as a resident, I felt good, but one has to pay for it, but it was good. Bihar needed it, and there was a demand for it. You have also given it for Andhra Pradesh, which was expected, but what have you done for Telangana, Punjab and West Bengal?”
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that this budget will fulfil the resolution of developed India. He congratulates the Finance Minister for this budget. An attempt has been made to keep inflation under control through the budget. This budget will help Madhya Pradesh to move forward.