Budget 2024 political reactions updates | It’s a Budget of creating India’s future: PM Modi; People rejected this Budget, says Dayanidhi Maran

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu hailed the interim budget, saying it reiterates the collective resolve to maintain the pace of all-round inclusive growth in a seamless manner.

He said that with a significant increase in the capital expenditure outlay to 11.1% (₹11.11 lakh crore for FY 25), the budget propels India towards the ambitious target of becoming a five trillion-dollar economy by 2027.

The extraordinary focus on R&D (research and development) spending is also a decisive step forward, the chief minister said in another social media post. - PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the finance minister has said that they will present a white paper on the previous government.

“In this context, we ask the Modi Government, how many of the promises made by the government in the last 10 years have been fulfilled,” he said, adding only big dreams have been shown to people, schemes relaunched by changing names, but what happened to old promises has not been told.

“How will the new dreams being shown get fulfilled,” he asked.

“Both accountability and vision are missing from this interim Budget. We expected some new schemes to ease the suffering of the poor and middle class from this Interim Budget 2024,” the Congress chief said. - PTI

Biotechnology industry veteran Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said that Ms. Sitharaman has outlined a comprehensive roadmap for sustained economic growth that will enable India to achieve developed economy status by 2047.

She termed it as an “all encompassing growth focused” budget, which augments inclusive economic development.

“Her emphasis on research and innovation, bio manufacturing, robust infrastructure development, and technology-driven digital transformation augur well for India to deliver on aspirational yet people-centric, inclusive development,” Ms. Mazumdar-Shaw posted on ‘‘X”.

The Government will come out with a White Paper on the mismanagement of economy prior to 2014 with an aim to draw lessons. The Government will lay a White Paper on table of the House,” Ms. Sitharaman announced while presenting the interim Budget.

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said, “We welcome the White Paper and will respond to it when it comes”.

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari said the “biggest lie of 2024 by the BJP” in the Interim Budget was that 25 crore people are out of poverty and 80 crore citizens are getting free ration. - PTI

JD(S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy praised the Interim Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as pro-people, pro-development and progressive.

He said it is indicative of the programmes that could figure in the full-scale Budget, which will be presented after the Lok Sabha polls, and highlighted the allocations made in the Interim Budget particularly with regard to agriculture.

“I am delighted that the Budget has a provision to make India self-sufficient in producing different oil seeds. This will benefit farmers across the country. The focus on developing agriculture-centric infrastructure for aggregating, warehousing, marketing branding, etc., is a welcome step,” Mr. Kumaraswamy said. - PTI

The Interim Budget reveals the “grim” economic situation confronting India’s working people and the government’s idea of development is making the rich richer and the poor poorer, the CPI(M) alleged.

In a statement, the Left party said while the actual Budget for 2024-25 will be the responsibility of the new government and Parliament to be formed after the 2024 general elections, the revised figures for 2023-24 reveal that expenditure in social sectors has “gone down”. “This will impact future growth,” the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said.

Despite the “tall claims” made by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman about the state of India’s economy, the interim Budget for 2024-25 reveals “the grim economic situation confronting India’s working people and the vicious face of the (Narendra) Modi government’s conception of development that is designed to make the rich richer and the poor poorer”, it said. - PTI

Kerala Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal said in Kerala Assembly that there is an economic recession in India, but there were no measures in the Interim Budget for 2024-25, presented by Union Finance Minister N. Sitharaman, to address the issue.

“There is an economic recession in India. So, some measures to energise it by allocating funds to various sectors was expected. That was not there,” he said. He made the remarks while criticising the Congress-led UDF Opposition for not discussing the shortcomings in the Interim Budget in the House.

The remarks came during discussion on the Kerala State Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2024 which aims to implement 28% GST on online gaming. - PTI

Former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath criticised the Interim Budget 2024 and said it has “exposed the anti-people face” of the Modi government.

“We were hopeful that the Finance Minister would inform us about the target of the Prime Minister to provide two crore jobs every year and accordingly whether the aim of giving 20 crore employment (in ten years) during the period has been achieved or not,” Mr. Nath asked. The middle class was expecting relief concerning the tax slabs but nothing happened.

He said the Modi government had promised to double farmers’ income by 2022, but in the Interim Budget for 2024-25, not a single good thing is mentioned in “their (farmers) favour”. “Also, the Budget has nothing for the youth, women, unemployed, farmers and jawans,” he claimed. - PTI

On the Interim Budget 2024, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took a long time to hail praises but delivery was zero.”They are going to present a white paper on the previous government. Nothing much has happened in the last 10 years. The people of the country are already disappointed. Moreover, you realise that performance incentives are given to the bridge companies, and not going to the deserving ones. People rejected this Budget,” he said. - ANI

Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal slammed the BJP and said that the Interim Budget 2024 was hollow. “There was nothing for the youth, women, farmers. I saw arrogance when they said that they would present the Budget in July. You cannot take any election for granted,” she said. - ANI

After the announcement of the Interim Budget 2024-25 today, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that it is nothing but to woo people in this year’s Lok Sabha elections.

“Is this a Budget to provide employment to the unemployed? This Budget is nothing but to woo people in this year’s Lok Sabha elections. Our country has fallen far down in the list of starvation; will this Budget help us get out of it?” he said. - ANI

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said that the Interim Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is focussed on the poor, women, youth and farmers. 

“Under the leadership of PM Modi, all Departments are making efforts to take the country forward. The Interim Budget was presented today and it is focussed on the poor, women, youth and farmers. This Budget has highlighted PM Modi’s pledge for the welfare of these categories,” CM Yadav said. - ANI

Terming Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Interim Budget speech an “election speech”, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said there was nothing new in the Budget speech and no measures were announced to provide relief to the common masses “who are facing the brunt of rising inflation”.

Addressing reporters in Jaipur, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, “It’s obvious that you have to praise your own government but I was expecting there might be some relief measures. There was nothing to address the rising inflation or issues related to employment. It was more of self-praising. Nothing new was there in the Budget. No relief for the middle class, farmers or students. The President’s address was also used as political speech.” - ANI

Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi said the 2024 Interim Budget has addressed the aspirations of youth and women and given importance to science, innovation, and technology.

“This is an Interim Budget and Nirmala Sitharaman herself said that we will present the full Budget on our own. This Budget comes in a sequence that for the last 10 years the country has been moving to higher stages,” Ms. Lekhi said, reacting to the Budget presented before the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

“Be it the youth, vulnerable sections, women, or farmers, the government has worked for all. The Budget addressed the aspirations of youth and women. This is reflected in our Budget. The happiest thing is that one crore women have become ‘Lakhpati Didis’. The next target is to have two crore more Lakhpati Didis. The Budget has also focussed on science, innovation, and technology. The fact that the tax slab has not increased is also a big thing,” she added. - ANI

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel said the Interim Budget would give pace to the country’s progress. She said the Budget represents the aspirations of the country.

According to a statement issued by the Raj Bhawan, the Governor said the Budget would pave the way for establishing “Ram Rajya”, which focusses on progress of the poor, women, youths and farmers. 

The Governor said the Interim Budget would pave the way for making the country Atma Nirbhar. - PTI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the Interim Budget as a “vision of Viksit Bharat”, which would serve as a roadmap for making India the “growth engine of the world”.

In a tweet on X, Mr. Adityanath hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for paving the way for making India a five-trillion-dollar economy and thanked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the Budget. - PTI

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav called the Interim Budget presented by the BJP government a “farewell Budget”.

“The BJP government has created a shameful record by completing a decade of anti-people Budgets, which will never break because now the time has come for a positive government to be formed. “This is BJP’s farewell budget,” he wrote on X. - PTI

“Goa Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Amit Palekar said the Union Budget was nothing more than an “election speech.” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke about rising foreign investment but did not utter a word about the falling Rupee vis-a-vis the U.S. dollar,” he said, reacting to the Interim Budget.

“It was more like a popular speech. It is like an election speech. There is nothing concrete. There were no concrete figures,” Mr. Palekar told reporters.

“She should have come out with concrete proposals to lift the entire economy. It has also to be conducive for industrial development and employment generation. But that did not happen,” he added.

The Budget did not offer anything to the middle- and lower-income groups and gave no hope to the industries either, Mr. Palekar claimed. - PTI

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal said the Interim Budget for 2024-2025 has dashed the expectations of the general public since no tax concession was offered.

“This time too the expectations of the general public were dashed. No tax concession, no reduction in petrol and diesel prices, no talk of reducing inflation. Women’s safety and upliftment only on paper,” Ms. Maliwal said in a post on X in Hindi.

Presenting a vote on account or an Interim Budget for 2024-25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed no changes in income tax rates for individuals and corporates, as well as customs duty.

In less than an hour-long Budget speech, she presented the Modi government’s achievements in the last 10 years that transformed India from being a ‘fragile’ economy to the world’s fastest-growing major economy. - PTI

Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju stressed on the role of the Interim Budget in propelling India into a five trillion-dollar economy and a fully developed nation by 2047.

“Although it is Interim, the attention to every sector, including infrastructure, social sector, agriculture and the blue ocean economy, is evident,” said Mr. Rijiju.

He credited the prudent fiscal management and economic policies led by PM Narendra Modi for making India the most confident economic power globally. He underlined the significance of the Budget’s focus on the blue economy, the deep ocean mission, and the exploration of ocean resources, foreseeing substantial contributions to the Indian economy. - PTI

Minister of State for Health S. P. Singh Baghel highlighted the inclusive nature of the Budget, addressing the needs of every section of society.

“This Budget takes into account the needs of every section of society. It lays the foundation for the development of India by focussing on the marginalised,” he said.

He pointed out the allocation for the construction of three crore new houses in new settlements, illustrating the government’s commitment to uplift the marginalised. - PTI

The Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal commended the Interim Budget’s alignment with the promises made a decade ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Reacting to the Interim Budget, which was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he said, “The guarantee that Modi ji gave to the people 10 years ago, he has fulfilled today. Because of this, the country has awakened, and development is visible in every aspect of the country,” said Mr. Sonowal.

He emphasised the Budget’s role in providing social security to every citizen and presenting a golden opportunity to strengthen the economy. “Through this Budget, it is clear that India will undoubtedly become the strongest and most developed country by 2047,” he said. - PTI

The Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar described the Interim Budget as “development-oriented” and said it would address the interests of all sections of the society.

In a video statement released after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Budget, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said, “The Budget has taken care of all sections of the society. It is a development-oriented Budget aimed at improving the lives of people across the country.” 

The Deputy CM expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and congratulated FM Sitharaman for presenting the Interim Budget in the Lok Sabha. He said the Budget has taken into account the aspirations of the people of this country.

“The Centre’s decision to allocate ₹75,000 crore for the overall development of the States will benefit Bihar,” he said. Mr. Sinha added that the Interim Budget would help expedite infrastructure projects in the country. - PTI

Terming the Interim Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as “progressive”, veteran BJP leader B. S. Yediyurappa complimented her for presenting a realistic Budget that will improve the standard of living of people.

The former Karnataka Chief Minister said the Budget reaffirms the commitment of the BJP government towards building a strong, empowered, developed and a “Vishwaguru” India in the coming days, which will complement the progress of the country. 

“Hearty congratulations to the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who has presented the country’s ‘progressive Budget’ to further strengthen the country’s economy, and towards realisation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of Navabharat,” Yediyurappa posted on social media platform X.

“Without presenting the Budget of pre-election popular slogans, through this Interim Budget, the Union Finance Minister has presented a realistic Budget that will improve the standard of living of our youth, farmers, women and especially the backward and vulnerable sections of the people, creating new hope and opportunities,” he added. - PTI

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Interim Budget 2024-25 will propel India’s rapid transformation into an economic superpower. “This inventive Budget aligns seamlessly with PM Modi Ji’s commitment to uplift farmers, women, youth, and the underprivileged,” he posted on X.

“With a clear roadmap for inclusive development, the Budget caters to diverse interests of the society, emphasising infrastructure growth for a new India,” he added.

The Road Transport and Highways Minister said this Budget reaffirms the government’s dedication to achieving the #Bharat2047 goal and marks a pivotal step in transformative journey of the country. - PTI

“Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented the Narendra Modi government’s “last” Budget,” Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said, taking a swipe at the BJP-led Centre after the Union Budget was presented.

Addressing party workers in Raigad district, adjoining Mumbai, Mr. Thackeray stated that Ms. Sitharaman said the Budget would focus on four “castes”, namely the poor, women, youth and farmers. Mr. Thackeray said the government has finally realised that the country has these four sets of people.

“The Modi government presented its last Budget. Want to thank the Finance Minister because she did it with a very heavy heart and presented the last Budget,” Mr. Thackeray said. - PTI

Union Minister Rajnath Singh said the Interim Union Budget outlines the vision for a “confident, strong and self-reliant Viksit Bharat”, and asserted that he was assured that the size of the Indian economy will grow to more than $5 trillion by 2027.

In a post on X, he also said there is something in this Budget for “every section of the society”. - PTI

Congress leader Manish Tewari said what was “extremely worrying” was the increasing fiscal deficit because the numbers that have been presented by the Finance Minister clearly demonstrate that more than 18 lakh crore is the unfunded extent of the Union Budget and “the number is going to increase over the next year”.

“If you leave that aside for a moment, the rest of the Budget speech was a mere grandstanding. It was like driving looking into the rear view mirror rather than looking ahead,” he said. - PTI

Opposition Congress leaders expressed disappointment at the Interim Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, saying the government dresses up its failures as successes.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor described the Budget speech as “short” and “disappointing”, and said this government has a “talent for dressing up its failures as successes”.

“The Budget speech was “short and disappointing.” There was very little of substance. Lot of issues not touched upon - the incredibly high unemployment - you cannot talk of empowering the youth when 45% youth unemployment exists in the country,” he said. - PTI

Interim Budget 2024 draws a roadmap to achieve PM Modi’s vision of a developed Bharat by 2047. It sheds light on the milestones achieved by Narendra Modi government in the last 10 years in its journey to make Bharat foremost nation in every sector: Union Home Minister Amit Shah. - PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Interim Budget 2024 targets boosting capital expenditure in a big way while keeping fiscal deficit under control. He said this Budget is a guarantee for strengthening the foundation for making a developed India by 2047. “It has confidence of continuity, it will empower youth, poor, women and farmers, the four pillars of ‘developed India’. It is not only an Interim Budget, it is also inclusive and innovative Budget.” - PTI

A corpus of ₹1 lakh crore to scale up research and innovation in sunrise domains will be a “game-changer policy”, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.

The comments by the Minister came following the announcement of the research corpus in the interim Budget 2024-25. “The research corpus fund will be a game-changer policy. India’s youth has now reached the stage where it has the strength and capability to meet the challenges and requirements globally besides fulfilling India’s requirements. The fund will be of great help in meeting the requirements for making India an economic superpower,” Mr. Pradhan said. 

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken great interest in innovation and has always stressed upon research...it has also been highlighted in the recommendations made in the New Education Policy,” he added. - PTI

After the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Interim Budget, BJP MP Poonam Mahajan has said that the BJP-led government is empowering the poor, women, farmers and youth for ‘Vikisit Bharat’. 

“A woman empowering the nation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has always believed that the country has to go forward with women leading the country. We are empowering the poor, women, farmers and youth for the Vikisit Bharat. And the Prime Minister is not just taking India forward at national but global level and the world has its eyes set on India,” said Poonam Mahajan. - ANI