The ruling alliance in the State, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress, on Wednesday, slammed the Union Budget-24 and said it has nothing for the poor, farmers, unemployed, women and youths. The parties said that it is a ‘Lolly-Pop’ budget and it has exposed the Central Government’s anti-farmer and anti-poor face.
Reacting sharply on the Union Budget, JMM General Secretary, Supriyo Bhattacharya said that the budget is not only full of disappointments but only a web of catchy words. “It is being said everywhere that income tax exemption has been given, it is completely misleading and beyond facts. It is just like keeping Rs101 in a Rs 500 envelope in a marriage function invitations. Where the income tax exemption was earlier up to 2,50,000, it was increased by only 50,000 and the exemption limit was increased from 2,50,000 to 3,00,000. 5 per cent income tax will have to be paid between 3 to 6 lakhs. Today, 80 percent of the people of India have a maximum monthly income of 25,000 or below. Means now the poor and low income group people will also be crushed,” he added.
“In the name of employment, there was talk of establishing a Nursing College, so that the corporate friends of the BJP, could be directly benefited. No assurance was given anywhere to the youth on the question of employment. Only Saptarishi was named. This word is attractive. This inflation-increasing budget will bring new challenges for the people. The Government should have told that the process of looting by individual industrial groups in the public sectors of the Country will stop and people will get justice and employment. We strongly condemn this budget and urge people to reject it,” said Bhattacharya.
Reacting to the budget 2023, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress President Rajesh Thakur said that the budget is top in announcements like before, but there has been a history of lagging behind in implementation and this fear remains in this budget as well. Overall, the budget is bogus.
For example, in the last budget it was announced to build 80 lakh PM houses, but only 38 lakh houses could be built and time has been sought for December 2024. 12,000 km of roads were to be built, but only 5,300 km of roads have been built.
He said that it was announced to start 400 Vande Bharat train but till January only 8 trains could be started. 3.8 crore houses were to be connected with tap water, but only less than half of 1.7 crore houses were able to get tap water connected.
Rajesh Thakur said that in the matter of income tax relief, the government has only given a tingle to the middle class and the salaried class. Section 80C of the Income Tax Act provides for exemption on investment.
Senior leaders of the State Congress Committee, Alok Kumar Dubey, Lal Kishorenath Shahdeo and Rajesh Gupta asked the BJP regarding the Union Budget whether inflation will come down from this budget and whether unemployment can be removed. If not, then BJP should answer, will this budget be effective in stopping wild increases in prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas cylinders? They said that this budget is a living proof of the continuous falling faith of the public on the BJP and the budget is made keeping the elections in mind.