Congress Boycotts NITI Aayog Meeting, Deems Union Budget 'Discriminatory'

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal, announced their boycott of the NITI Aayog meeting, protesting the lack of 'justice' for opposition-ruled states in the Union Budget 2024. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin also joined the boycott, calling the budget discriminatory.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced on Wednesday that Congress Chief Ministers will boycott the NITI Aayog meeting, citing the absence of 'justice' for opposition-ruled states from the Centre. 'There is no 'Niti' (policy); it has gone. There is no justice here. So, our leaders have decided to protest the lack of proper representation in the budget,' Shivakumar told reporters.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal termed the Union Budget 2024 discriminatory and announced on Tuesday that party Chief Ministers would skip the NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for July 27. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin, a key Congress ally, also confirmed his non-attendance, deeming the budget 'discriminatory.'

In a social media post, Venugopal said, 'The Union Budget presented today was extremely discriminatory and dangerous, contravening the principles of federalism and fairness that the Union Government must uphold. In protest, INC CMs will boycott the NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for July 27.' Following the budget presentation by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, opposition parties criticized it, calling it the 'Kursi Bachao Budget,' while the ruling party and its allies hailed it as the roadmap for a 'Viksit Bharat.'

Opposition leaders' backlash stemmed from Sitharaman's announcement of special schemes for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, whose governments are key BJP allies in the NDA coalition. Andhra Pradesh will receive Rs 15,000 crore for developing its capital, Amaravati, while Bihar will get development projects worth Rs 58,900 crore.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, condemned the Union Budget 2024-25, accusing the Finance Minister of making empty promises. On social media platform 'X,' he tweeted, 'Kursi Bachao Budget. Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states. Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian. Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets.'