Congress leader Shashi Tharoor criticizes budget 2024-25 as 'underwhelming,' praises angel tax abolition

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticized the Union Budget 2024-25 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as "underwhelming," citing a lack of focus on critical issues impacting the common man. Tharoor expressed disappointment over the budget's minimal attention to poverty alleviation, MNREGA, and income disparity, stating that it only offered "token gestures" towards job creation.

He welcomed the abolition of the angel tax, a move he had previously suggested to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, calling it a positive step for encouraging investment in startups.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and Congress MP Karti Chidambaram also weighed in, with Chaturvedi labeling the budget as a "PM Sarkaar Bachao Yojana" due to its focus on appeasing alliance partners like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, while neglecting states like Maharashtra.

Chidambaram acknowledged the political motivations behind the budget's allocations and noted the inclusion of elements from the Congress manifesto, including the apprenticeship scheme. The budget's proposal to abolish the angel tax is seen as a significant move to boost investment in startups.