The Union Budget 2023-24 has attracted partisan and polarised reactions from the Indian political class.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hailed the Budget 2023-24 as the one ushering India into Amrit Kaal —period between 75th-100th year of Independence— for all-inclusive growth, the Opposition has slammed it for ignoring the poor and unemployment and for helping friends of the ruling party.
In her fifth Budget, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman sought to balance fiscal responsibility while also addressing key electoral blocs. While she kept the expected fiscal deficit for the upcoming 5.9 per cent of GDP, she extended the income tax exemption, slashed the maximum tax rate, and hiked several budgetary provisions to eye some key blocs.
All-inclusive, far-sighted Budget: BJP
The ruling BJP on Wednesday hailed the Union Budget as an "all-inclusive" document which reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "farsighted" leadership to make a new India.
Modi said the Budget 2023-24 provides a strong base to fulfil the dreams of an aspirational society, including the poor and the middle class. He described the Union Budget as "historic" and said the first budget in 'Amrit Kaal' has established a strong base to fulfil the resolve of a developed India. He said that in order to empower the middle class, the government has taken many significant decisions in past years that have ensured ease of living.
"This year's Budget infuses new energy to India's development trajectory," Modi said in a tweet.
BJP president JP Nadda said the first general budget of India's 'Amrit Kaal' is a public welfare and pro-poor document which will empower and uplift villagers, Dalits, tribals, farmers, backward and the oppressed classes.
"It is a blueprint for India's rapid growth and development which will ensure holistic progress of the country," said Nadda.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the "all-inclusive and visionary" Budget and will give further impetus to the Modi government's resolve for building a self-reliant India. He added it reflects the foresight of the Modi government to build a new India with strong infrastructure and a strong economy.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the Union Budget is expected to bring about positive changes in the country that will lead people towards achieving the goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy and be among the 'top three’ economies within the next few years.
Budget only helps rich friends: Rahul Gandhi
In contrast to the 'Amrit Kaal' Budget of the BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dubbed the Budget as that of "Mitra Kaal". It was a reference to Modi's alleged rich friends that he allegedly benefits, as per the Congress. The Congress and some in the Opposition often accuse Modi and his government of favouring industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani.
Rahul also said the Budget has no vision to create jobs or tackle inflation.
"'Mitr Kaal' Budget has: NO vision to create Jobs. NO plan to tackle Mehngai. NO intent to stem Inequality. 1% richest own 40% of the wealth, 50% poorest pay 64% of GST, 42% youth are unemployed -- yet, PM doesn't Care!" Gandhi said in a tweet.
"This Budget proves Govt has NO roadmap to build India's future," he said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged the budget was "big on announcements and short on delivery", and accused the BJP government of making the life of common man difficult.
Alleging the Modi government has "looted" the country by raising prices of flour, pulses, milk and cooking gas, he claimed the budget is a proof that people are "continuously losing faith in the BJP".
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram termed the budget "callous" and said Sitharaman did not mention the words unemployment, poverty, inequality or equity anywhere in her speech
"Mercifully, she has mentioned the word poor twice in her speech. I am sure the people of India will take note of who are in the concerns of the government and who are not," the former finance minister said.
Congress leader Kamal Nath termed the Budget a cover-up of unfulfilled old promises by "jumlas" (rhetoric). "We expected the FM will throw light on the announcements that were to be completed in 2022."
Totally opportunistic, anti-poor, anti-people: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Budget will deprive the poor. "It is not futuristic, totally opportunistic, anti-people and anti-poor... It has been prepared with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections."
The CPI(M) said the Union budget was "contractionary" and "anti-people".
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the relation between the Centre and states are going to get further strained and that fiscal federalism is now under "severe attack". "States cannot raise resources after GST. They are not allowed to borrow under the new conditionalities. So you have reduced the states to coming to the Centre with a begging bowl.
"Then you have what has been announced for Karnataka now, a huge allocation for them. It is very clear where there is BJP, state governments get benefits and non-BJP government states get squeezed. Thus, this will lead to a great strain in our polity," Yechury said.
Other regional parties such as the DMK and the Shiv Sena faction headed by Uddhav Thackeray termed the budget disappointing and accused the Centre of taking away states' resources.
Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi, who represents the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena, accused the Modi government of not making adequate allocations in the budget towards education and health infrastructure in states.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the Budget has brought people "nirasha" (despair) instead of "asha" (hope), and will only benefit the rich.
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati said it would be better if the Budget is for the country rather than for the party.
(With PTI inputs)
