New Delhi: The Opposition on Tuesday slammed the Union Budget, calling it a “Pegasus spin budget” and a “zero-sum budget” that has nothing for the salaried class and the poor. Shortly after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a bigger Rs 39.45 lakh crore Budget 2022-23 in Lok Sabha, the opposition parties reacted sharply against the government’s economic blueprint while BJP leaders, including Union ministers, welcomed the document as “visionary”.
Several Congress leaders, including former party president Rahul Gandhi, criticised Sitharaman for presenting a “Lollypop budget” and alleged that it has exposed the government’s “anti-farmer and anti-poor” face. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed it a “Pegasus spin budget” that provided nothing to the common people who have been “crushed” by unemployment and inflation.
“M0di G0vernment’s Zer0 Sum Budget! Nothing for – Salaried class, Middle class, the poor and deprived, Youth, Farmers and MSMEs,” Gandhi said on Twitter.
In an Instagram post, he said there is despair all around our country, our youth have no future and once again the Modi government’s budget completely ignores this painful reality.
West Bengal CM and TMC chief Banerjee said the Centre was lost in “big words” signifying nothing.
“Budget has zero for common people, who are getting crushed by unemployment and inflation. Government is lost in big words signifying nothing – a Pegasus spin budget (sic),” she tweeted.
The Opposition is preparing to unitedly take on the government in Parliament on the Pegasus snooping row after the New York Times claimed that India purchased the snooping spyware as part of a defence deal with Israel in 2017.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal dubbed the Union Budget as “disappointing” and said it has nothing for the common people.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury questioned the government on the purpose of the Budget and asked why the wealthy have not been taxed further.
“Budget for whom? The richest 10% Indians own 75% of the country’s wealth. The bottom 60% own less than 5%. Why are those who amassed super-profits during the pandemic, while joblessness, poverty & hunger have grown, not being taxed more?” Yechury asked in a tweet.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati said the Budget has been brought to “woo the public with new promises” and alleged that the Centre has forgotten to implement its old announcements.
The Budget proposed a massive 35 per cent jump in capital expenditure to Rs 7.5 lakh crore, coupled with rationalisation of customs duty, an extension of time for setting up new manufacturing companies and plans for starting a digital currency and tax crypto assets.