CPI leader Binoy Viswam criticizes Union Budget 2024, accuses Centre of ignoring Kerala

Speaking with ANI, Viswam said, "This is a BJP budget, which means deceit to the people, deceit to the common men and women. The budget has political vengeance as Kerala has been ignored. None of Kerala's demands have been addressed by the government. There are no projects for Kerala, no aims for Kerala. All the expectations have proven to be futile."

Stepping up his attacks on the budget, Viswam said, "It is a 'Kursi Bachao Budget.' Their basic interest is to save their chair of power. To save that chair of power, they need TDP and JDU, and for that, they have taken some measures to pacify them. At the cost of this pacification, all other states are suffering and their shares are being cut off."

CPI's former Rajya Sabha MP also targeted the government, saying that it doesn't care for the poor people. "Such a budget cannot be called a national budget. This is a budget of a government that has no concern for the poor people of this country."

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her record seventh consecutive Union Budget for 2024-25 on July 23 during the Budget Session of Parliament. She is the first finance minister to deliver seven consecutive budget speeches, surpassing former Prime Minister Morarji Desai's record of six consecutive budgets between 1959 and 1964.

FM Sitharaman, in her seventh consecutive Union Budget for 2024-25, outlined key priorities aimed at fostering economic growth and creating ample opportunities. The priorities include Productivity and Resilience in Agriculture, Employment and Skilling and services.

She listed productivity and resilience in agriculture, employment and skilling, inclusive human resource development and social justice, manufacturing and services, urban development, energy security, infrastructure, innovation, research and development, and next-generation reforms as nine priority areas for the government.

In her budget speech, Sitharaman outlined key priorities to foster economic growth, including productivity and resilience in agriculture, employment and skilling, inclusive human resource development, social justice, manufacturing and services, urban development, energy security, infrastructure, innovation, research and development, and next-generation reforms.

Sitharaman also proposed significant income-tax reforms for the fiscal year 2024-25, including an increased standard deduction and revised tax rates for salaried individuals under the new tax regime.

She announced an allocation of Rs 2 lakh crore to create employment for about 4.1 crore youth over the next five years. Additionally, Rs 1.48 lakh crore has been earmarked for skilling 20 lakh youth over five years, and 1,000 industrial training institutes will be upgraded. (ANI)