Budget Draws Ire for Neglecting Farmers, Employment

New Delhi-Congress leader Udit Raj criticized the Union Budget on Sunday, characterizing it as politically motivated with an eye on Delhi voters. While acknowledging the long-awaited tax rebates as a relief for the middle class, he argued that persistent inflation would effectively negate these benefits. He noted that while tax exemption limits needed to increase alongside rising salaries, the fundamental issue of increasing inflation remains unaddressed.

Raj pointed to significant omissions in the budget, highlighting the absence of discussions on farmers' Minimum Support Price (MSP), employment generation, and agricultural development. He expressed particular concern about infrastructure spending, suggesting that much of the allocated funds would be consumed by repair and maintenance costs due to what he described as unsustainable construction practices and corruption. The Congress leader emphasized that budget allocation alone was insufficient without proper implementation.

Regarding the budget's potential impact on the Delhi elections, Raj maintained that while the tax relief was a welcome development for the middle class, it was overdue and appeared politically timed. He stressed that the budget failed to address crucial issues like government job creation and employment opportunities for educated youth, arguing that these omissions represented significant gaps in the government's economic planning.