Leader of opposition in Karnataka assembly Siddaramaiah alleged that it was a "Sabka Vinaash" budget as the Centre, which tabled a budget worth Rs 39 lakh crore, was burdening the country with huge debt.
"Next year, the Centre will be borrowing Rs 11.87 lakh crore. Last year, the total debt was Rs 135 lakh crore. Since Independence till Manmohan Singh was the prime minister, the total debt was only Rs 53 lakh crore. But the Modi government has accrued debts of Rs 93 lakh crore in the last eight years. Every year, the country is paying an interest component of Rs 9.40 lakh crore. A lion's share of the budget is being spent on repaying the loans," said Siddaramaiah.
"NREGA helped people tide over the pandemic. But the Centre cut down the NREGA funds by Rs 37,000 crore last year and again this year, they have reduced it by Rs 25,000 crore. The reduction in grants for food and civil supplies department by Rs 79,683 crore will weaken the Food Security Act and affect foodgrain distribution through PDS. The Budget has failed to fix the priorities and provide relief to eliminate poverty, hunger and unemployment," said Siddaramaiah, and claimed that the government let down the common man.
"It is a corporates-friendly government."
Former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy slammed the Union Budget saying, "This Budget has nothing for the common man. There is no concern or thought for the people who have been suffering due to Covid and inflation. More people are being pushed to poverty, while the rich are growing richer. The Budget does not offer any solution to this problem," said Kumaraswamy.
KPCC chief D.K. Shivakumar mocked at the Centre by calling it a "Covid Budget".
"People will suffer due to this Budget the same way they suffered due to Covid. We had hoped that the Centre would provide Rs four lakh each to the families of Covid victims and bear the treatment cost of Covid patients who availed treatment in private hospitals too," said Shivakumar, adding that the Centre had tabled a Budget that made "zero contribution" to Karnataka.
"I thank the 25.BJP MPs and our chief minister for ensuring a windfall of schemes for the state. The finance minister who got elected from our state has also chosen to ignore the state," said Shivakumar sarcastically.
Slamming the Centre for making "false" election promises, Shivakumar said, "The government which promised two crore jobs annually has today scaled it down to 60 lakh. The NREGA funds have been reduced too. There is no relief for anyone, including people who lost their jobs and livelihood during the Covid lockdowns. This government is working for the corporate lobby and not for the common man."
