In a robust defense during the Lok Sabha budget discussion, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed accusations from the opposition that opposition-ruled states were neglected in the Union Budget 2024, presented on July 23. She emphasized that no state was denied funds in the budget.
Sitharaman highlighted that previous budgets under the UPA government also did not name all states, suggesting that the absence of state names in budget speeches does not equate to a lack of funding.
Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Tuesday.
“I have reviewed Budget speeches from 2004-2005 through 2009-2010. The 2004-2005 Budget did not mention 17 states. I ask the UPA members—did those 17 states not receive funding? In 2005-06, 18 states were not named; 13 states in 2006-07; 16 states in 2007-08; and 26 states in 2009-10. Did money not go to them?” she asked, as quoted by PTI.
The opposition had criticized the Union Budget for its announcements regarding Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, states governed by key National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies Janata Dal (United) and Telugu Desam Party, respectively.
Addressing the opposition’s concerns, Sitharaman cited an SBI research report highlighting that India created 12.5 crore jobs between 2014 and 2023, compared to only 2.9 crore during the UPA’s decade in power. She also noted that the unemployment rate had decreased from 6% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2022-23, and youth unemployment for the 15-29 age group dropped sharply from 17.8% in 2017-18 to 10% in 2022-23.
Furthermore, Sitharaman pointed out that the allocation for various social schemes has increased compared to the previous year’s budget and has grown significantly since 2013-14. For example, the agriculture and allied sector allocation was ₹30,000 crore in 2013-14, whereas it is now ₹1.52 lakh crore, an increase of ₹8,000 crore from last year.
