The Opposition on Tuesday slammed the Union Budget, calling it a "Pegasus spin Budget" and a "zero-sum Budget" that has nothing for the salaried class and the poor.
Several Congress leaders, including former party president Rahul Gandhi, criticized the Modi government for presenting a "Lollypop budget" and alleged that it has exposed the government's "anti-farmer and anti-poor" face. TMC, SP, BSP, Left parties all termed the budget a big disappointment just like the Modi government has ever since in office.
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram termed the budget speech by Nirmala Sitharaman as the “most capitalist budget to be ever read” by a finance minister. Taking a swipe at Sitharaman, the senior Congress leader thanked Sitharaman for “remembering that there are poor people” in the country as the word ‘poor’ occurs only twice, in paragraph 6, of the budget speech. He asserted that the people of this country will reject the “capitalist budget”.
“I was astonished, shocked that the finance minister was outlining a plan for the next 25 years. The government seems to believe that the present does not need any attention and the public can be asked to wait patiently until 'Amrit Kaal' dawns. This is mocking the people of India,” Chidambaram said at the AICC Press conference to react on the budget.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, "This budget is only for the rich as it has nothing for the poor. It is aimed at benefitting their own people, who are rich and nothing for the poor. This attitude is not good for the people of the country." He alleged the government has repeated its earlier promises, which are porving false, like constructing houses for the poor.
While West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed it a "Pegasus spin budget" that provided nothing to the common people who have been "crushed" by unemployment and inflation and the Centre was lost in "big words" signifying nothing, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal dubbed the Union Budget as "disappointing" and said it has nothing for the common people. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the Union Budget is directionless and had no provision or relief for farmers.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said it will cut into the pockets of the general public while BSP chief Mayawati said the Budget has been brought to "woo the public with new promises" and alleged that the Centre has forgotten to implement its old announcements.
Left parties hit out at the government, saying it was "anti people" and a "bag of disasters and deceptions".
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury questioned the government on the purpose of Union Budget and asked why the wealthy have not been taxed further. CPI general secretary D Raja said that the overall allocation for agriculture and allied activities has gone down from 4.26 per cent to 3.84 per cent.