Karnataka Opposes Union Budget: Claims Favoritism Towards NDA-Ruled States

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and CM Siddaramaiah of Karnataka criticized the Union Budget 2024, alleging bias towards NDA-ruled states like Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. They expressed disappointment over the lack of support for opposition-ruled states, including Karnataka, despite its economic contributions.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has voiced his dissatisfaction with the Union Budget 2024, asserting that states governed by opposition parties have been neglected, including Karnataka. He expressed his disappointment with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, stating, 'No states ruled by the INDIA alliance or opposition parties, including Karnataka, received anything. It is unfortunate, and I never expected this from FM Nirmala Sitharaman. Karnataka is generating a lot of employment, and I thought PM Narendra Modi and the Finance Minister would help Bengaluru with its infrastructure and various other developments. Instead, they have only supported Andhra Pradesh and Bihar to save their government.'

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah echoed these sentiments, describing the budget as 'an empty vessel' given to Karnataka by Nirmala Sitharaman. He noted, 'Only Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have received substantial funds. Nothing has been given to other states because he (PM Modi) needs to have the confidence of those two states to remain as PM.'

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the first Union Budget of the Modi 3.0 government during the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Tuesday, making significant announcements for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, including enhancements in infrastructure and special financial support. The initiatives cover human resource development, infrastructure advancements, and economic opportunity generation for the eastern region, encompassing Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

The Finance Minister detailed plans to construct new airports, medical colleges, and sports infrastructure in Bihar, alongside an additional allocation for capital investments and expedited external assistance requests from multilateral development banks. Sitharaman also revealed a Rs 11,500 crore allocation for flood control in Bihar and funding for tourist sites like the Rajgir Jain Temple and Bodh Gaya. Andhra Pradesh received notable financial support aimed at addressing the state's capital needs.

The budget session of Parliament began on July 22 and is set to conclude on August 12. (ANI)