Union Budget 2023: Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday lauded the Union Budget 2023 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and described it as the cornerstone of a “developed India”.
Speaking exclusively to India TV after the budget, he criticized the Leader of the Opposition for calling it misleading and election-centric. Notably, earlier today, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge termed the budget both “misleading” and “poll-oriented” and accused FM Sitaram of skipping key questions on inflation and unemployment.
‘Congress always in election mode’
Hitting out at the opposition leaders, he said that the previous government had revealed its budget-making strategy while in power. According to him, the grand old party was always in “election mode” and sidestepped the long-term aspirations of the common people.
The Union Minister also lauded the Finance Minister for handling all grievances during the COVID-19 pandemic and said that he has laid the foundation stone for a “developed India”.
Congress stand on the budget
Sitharaman’s presentation of the Union Budget for the financial year 2023-24 is being considered most important amid the fact that the country is due for general elections next year. In addition, at least five states, including Karnataka, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland, are due for elections in the coming months.
Recalling the promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, Kharge said the budget did not even mention how it would fulfill the aspirations of 16 crore unemployed youth. Specifically, he was pointing fingers at the promise made by PM Modi in which he assured two crore jobs every year to the youth.
No plan for MNREGA
The Congress also underlined that the latest budget also missed out on its forward plans on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) – an Indian labor law and social security measure that aims to guarantee the ‘right to work’. He said that this scheme is very important as it guarantees employment in remote areas of the country.
Speaking to news agency ANI on Wednesday, he said, “The budget was presented by the Modi government keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in three-four states. Anything for the poor people in the budget and to control inflation.” Not there.” “No move for jobs, to fill government vacancies and MNREGA,” Kharge said.