BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao criticises Congress and INDIA bloc for opposing special state allocations in Union Budget

During a press conference held by the BJP at party headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday, Rao said, "All sections of the country welcomed PM Narendra Modi's budget yesterday. The whole country is viewing this budget, presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman, as supportive of the poor, farmers, and middle class. A special focus has been placed on education and employment, and the entire country sees this budget as the fulfilment of PM Modi's guarantee of 'Viksit Bharat'."

Rao further stated that balanced development has been the main focus of PM Modi's government over the past 10 years. "Balanced development has been mentioned in every budget over the last 10 years. Special focus is given to backward states, particularly the Eastern region, to ensure they achieve balanced development. This budget continues that effort by PM Modi," he said.

Rao asserted that the budget, with more than Rs 48 lakh crore in expenditure, addresses every section of society and every state in the country. He said, "Special allocations have been made to certain states, considering their developmental needs, their long neglect, and their inability to catch up with other parts of the country."

He added, "In this context, the Congress and INDIA alliance's opposition to the budget reveals their political frustration and shows their negative attitude towards backward states that need special focus."

During the press conference, Rao also showed the Congress manifesto and intensified his attacks on the party for betraying the people of Andhra Pradesh. He said, "This section on federalism and Centre-State relations talks about the Congress party's commitment to Andhra Pradesh. It promises special category status to Andhra Pradesh, as pledged in 2014. No other states are mentioned in the manifesto except Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh certainly needs special assistance due to the ravages of division and bifurcation and the Congress party's neglect despite being in power from 2004 to 2014. I think the Congress party betrayed the people of Andhra Pradesh."

Rao further said that PM Modi and the Finance Minister have provided special assistance through multilateral agencies to Andhra Pradesh to help a state left without a capital because of the Congress party's hurried actions in 2014 to gain political benefit from state bifurcation. "They never gained that benefit and never will, as it was purely a political game they employed," he added.

Speaking more about the budget, Rao said that other states are also going to benefit. "It's not only about Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. This budget mentions how states will benefit from the Purvodaya plan, including all states in the eastern corridor: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. The Purvodaya plan will help the government invest in infrastructure, education, and create better employment opportunities."

Notably, the Purvodaya plan advocates for the all-around development of the eastern region of the country, covering Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her speech, had said, "This will cover human resource development, infrastructure, and the generation of economic opportunities to make the region an engine to attain Viksit Bharat."

Stepping up his attacks on Congress and the INDIA bloc, Rao said, "A little help was given to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar in this budget, so why are Congress and the INDIA alliance pained by this? Why does Congress want to prove to be anti-Bihar, anti-Andhra Pradesh, and anti-development? Is the Congress party unable to accept that regions that have not been developed need assistance? Why does it pain the Congress party and INDIA alliance? Is it because your entire politics depend on hardcore politics and not on any vision for development?"

Demanding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to apologise to the people of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, Rao added, "Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party must apologise. They must apologise to the people of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar for making a mockery of the special budget announcement for these states." (ANI)