INDIA slams Budget 2024, calls it 'Kursi Bachao' tactic over Bihar & Andhra package

The Opposition has sharply criticized Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget 2024, accusing the government of focusing on political allies rather than addressing pressing issues such as poverty and unemployment.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi described the budget as a "kursi bachao" (power retention) move, claiming it prioritizes NDA allies like Andhra Pradesh and Bihar at the expense of broader national needs. Gandhi and other leaders argued that the budget does little to provide relief to the common Indian and instead aims to secure support from regional allies.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav echoed these sentiments, criticizing the budget for its special projects in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh while neglecting Uttar Pradesh. He accused the government of exacerbating unemployment over the past decade and failing to complete promised projects.

The criticism extended to other Opposition figures, including Congress’s Jairam Ramesh and P. Chidambaram, who claimed the budget merely replicates Congress's proposals without substantial innovation. Meanwhile, AAP's Atishi questioned why Delhi received no allocation despite its significant tax contributions.