The Opposition criticised the Modi-2.0 Government's first annual Budget terming it “insipid” and “completely visionless” which will further increase the sufferings of the common people.
Describing it as “old wine in a new bottle”, the Congress alleged that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman belied expectations and gave no "meaningful relief" to any section of society. While the Trinamool Congress said the Government is still selling dreams and not delivering, the BSP said though the Union Government tried to make it alluring, it would only help the capitalists.
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the Budget has been prepared without listening to the voices of either ordinary citizens or knowledgeable economists.
"The Modi Government treats India as one big State Government and has taken upon itself to do things that are the right and duty of State Governments. This is not cooperative federalism, it is an unequal partnership imposed by the Centre upon State Governments," Chidambaram said.
Criticising the Budget, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said it was just a repetition of "old promises". "They (the BJP) are talking about a new India, but it is simply old wine in a new bottle," he told reporters outside Parliament. He claimed that no new initiatives were announced by the Government.
The Modi Government has tried to project India as "El Dorado" (a place of fabulous wealth for all), but in reality the pain of the economy is being experienced, he said. "There is no plan for employment generation, there is no distinct plan for giving any facilities to agriculture sector, labour sector. This is nothing but a litany of old promises," Chowdhury said.
While Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala alleged that the Government had "betrayed" India's youth with "no word" on unemployment, new opportunities, public education, and high fee structure, Rajya Sabha member Abhishek Manu Singhvi, wrote on the microblogging website: "Bailout plans for PSUs & moves like inheritance tax are Modi's outing from the closet as the ultra left, vote seeking politician that he is. He got RWs (economic & political) to vote for him but his heart is only toward RW (right-wing) Polity not Economics."
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the Union Budget "completely visionless" which will increase the sufferings of the common people. "#Budget2019 is completely visionless. In fact, the total vision is derailed. On top of it, not only have they imposed cess but also special additional excise duty on petrol and diesel leading to price increase by nearly Rs 2.50/litre for petrol and Rs 2.30/litre for diesel. As a result, price hikes will hit from transport to market to kitchens. Commoners are suffering and suffering," Banerjee, also Trinamool Congress supremo, said in a tweet.
TMC Rajya Sabha party leader Derek O' Brien said the Government is still selling dreams and not delivering. "Far from a dream, it is (budget) a nightmare for common people who are suffering," he said.
Reacting to the General Budget, BSP supremo Mayawati said though the Union Government tried to make it alluring, it would only help the capitalists. "It has to be seen as to how this Budget of theirs is actually beneficial for the people of the country at the ground level," she said in a tweet, adding that the entire country was "distraught and harassed" by poverty, unemployment, poor educational and health facilities.