New Delhi: As expected, the Union Budget for 2022-23 evoked mixed reactions from a cross section of the people. Here’s what they had to say on the Union Budget presented Tuesday by Nirmala Sitharaman. Most of them took to the social media to express their opinions.
Narendra Modi (Prime Minister): The budget is ‘people-friendly and progressive’. It has brought new confidence to usher development in the midst of one the most terrible calamities, Covid-19. This budget is full of new possibilities for more infrastructure, more investment, more growth, and more jobs. An important aspect of this budget is the welfare of the poor.
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (Minister, Minority Affairs): The Union Budget advances the opportunity for self-reliant India amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Amidst the global economic crisis, the Budget binds together trust and development with the thread of ‘self-reliant India’.
Anil Agarwal (Vedanta Resources Executive Chairman): We stand with the government in its exhortation for ‘Sabka Prayas’. The private sector is committed to nation-building, job creation and will work with the government and the people of India to fulfil our goals.
Anand Mahindra (Mahindra Group Chairman): Brevity has always been a virtue. @nsitharaman’s shortest budget address may prove to be the most impactful.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (Biocon Executive Chairperson): Fiscal prudence and business ease have been the theme. 35% increase in capital expenditure will drive infra and jobs – positive rhetoric with no negative surprises = balanced budget.
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Harsh Goenka (RPG Enterprises Chairman): With today’s budget focussed on capex, digital and welfare – I can clearly imagine the future. Today’s wordle – Budget edition.
Rahul Gandhi (Congress leader): M0di G0vernment’s Zer0 Sum Budget! Nothing for – Salaried class, Middle class, the poor and deprived, Youth, Farmers and MSMEs.
Rajnath Singh (Defence Minister): The 68 percent of defence capital procurement budget has been allocated towards local procurement. It is in line with the ‘Vocal for Local’ push and it will certainly boost the domestic defence industries. The proposal to reserve 25 per cent of the R&D Budget for Startups and Private entities is an excellent move. Congratulations to Finance Minister, Smt @nsitharaman on presenting an excellent Union Budget for 2022-23. It is a Budget which would give fillip to ‘Make in India’, boost demand and build capacities for a stronger, prosperous and confident India. It is a growth oriented Budget focused on harnessing the energies of New India.
Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal Chief Minister): The Union Budget provided nothing to the common people who have been ‘crushed’ by unemployment and inflation. It is a ‘Pegasus spin budget’.
Sitaram Yetchury (CPI(M) General Secretary): The Budget does not raise standard deduction, which was widely anticipated in view of elevated inflation levels and impact of the pandemic on the middle class. Budget for whom? The richest 10% Indians owns 75% of the country’s wealth. Bottom 60% own less than 5%. Why are those who amassed super profits during the pandemic, while joblessness, poverty & hunger have grown, not being taxed more?”
K Chandrasekhar Rao (Telengana Chief Minister): The Union Budget is highly disappointing, directionless, useless and purposeless. It is utter disappointment for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes, minorities, farmers, common man, poor, artisans and employees. The Finance Minister was full of hollowness and used jugglery of words to fool the people. It is what I call a ‘Golmaal Budget’. The Budget is a big zero for farmers and the agriculture sector.
Shiv Sena: The Union Budget is very depressing. It has neither given any relief to the middle class nor it has any reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a ‘USD 5 trillion’ economy. During the coronavirus pandemic, people of the country paid Rs 1.40 lakh crore as GST but, unfortunately, the schemes that were to be implemented with regard to taxes do not find a place in the budget. The budget misleads people.
Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh Chief Minister): Overall it is a directionless budget that has nothing for youth, unemployed, women and farmers. It is ‘Lollipop Bugdet’.
Biplab Deb (Tripura CM): The budget is an embodiment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promises to fulfil the aspiration of people and has been drafted with the ‘vision of making a new India’. The proposed scheme – Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region – will help boost infrastructure and social development of all the states in NE.
Jitendra Singh (Union Minister): It is a futuristic budget for 2022-23 with ‘huge emphasis’ on every sector. It was indeed a historic moment to witness! Under inspiring leadership of PM Sh @NarendraModi, FM Smt @nsitharaman presented a truly futuristic budget. Huge emphasis, in every sector, on scientific technology & innovation. Incentives for #StartUps. #AatmanirbharBharatKaBudget,” he tweeted.
Mayawati (Bahujan Samaj Party chief): The Union Budget has been done to ‘woo the public with new promises’. However, the Centre has forgotten to implement its old announcements. The tax burden has made the life of the people miserable. Hence, it would be better if the Centre makes efforts to reduce the despair and disappointment among the people due to inflation and insecurity.
Ashok Ghelot (Rajasthan CM): The Union budget will further lead to rise in fiscal deficit and has no special provision for farmers, common man, poor and women. The fiscal deficit of the central government has doubled in the last seven years. After this budget, the deficit is going to rise further. There is no special provision for farmers, common man, poor, women and deprived sections in the budget. The citizens of Rajasthan, who gave 25 MPs to the NDA from this budget, have been completely disappointed. This budget will prove to be a budget to increase inflation, to fill the pockets of industrialists and to empty the pockets of common man, farmers and labourers.