Finance Minister Sitharaman Accuses Opposition of Double Speak Over Budget Allegations

July 25, 2024July 25, 2024

2 min read

New Delhi, July 25, 2024 – The ‘preferential treatment’ tag attached to the budget has become the latest flashpoint between the government and the opposition, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accusing the Opposition of double speak.

Minister’s Defense: In her response, Sitharaman stated, “Which finance minister has mentioned all states? Just because I have mentioned Andhra Pradesh and Bihar specifically doesn’t mean that others are not important.” This statement came amid growing criticism from the opposition, which claims that the budget favors certain states over others.

Niti Aayog Meeting and Budgetary Consultations: Top finance ministry sources expressed disappointment over the decision of the Tamil Nadu CM and Congress CMs to skip the Niti Aayog meeting on July 27, calling it a missed opportunity. “They could have confronted PM Narendra Modi directly with a copy of the budget and asked him why they have got less money than expected,” sources said.

During budgetary consultations, CMs like Telangana’s Revanth Reddy and Himachal’s Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met the PM to request more funds. Sources noted that the PM heard the Himachal CM and allocated funds for flood relief. This has led to grievances from West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who questioned why her state did not receive similar aid despite facing floods.

Government’s Stance: Sources pointed out that any new scheme announced and increased allocation for existing schemes such as Awaas Yojana and Aarogya Yojana would benefit all states. They emphasized that it is up to the states to request the funds they need. In Maharashtra alone, the government announced projects worth Rs 17 lakh crore.

Opposition’s Perception: The opposition has also raised concerns about the new tax regime, which they label as a backdoor entry of inheritance tax due to the removal of indexation. However, sources argue that the new tax rate without indexation is beneficial in most cases, citing examples where the new regime proves advantageous for properties held over various periods.

Battle of Optics: The budget has now become a battle of optics and one-upmanship, with the opposition hoping that the government will blink first. Meanwhile, the finance ministry remains armed with facts and statistics to counter these allegations.

For more updates on this developing story, visit Sarhind Times.