Opposition Alleges Discriminatory Union Budget, Stages Protest at Parliament

Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc protested at the Parliament on Wednesday, accusing the Union Budget of being discriminatory and ineffective. They argued that the budget fails to address basic issues and lacks long-term vision, adding that it disproportionately benefits BJP allies while neglecting several states.

Following the Union Budget's presentation on Tuesday, the joint opposition led a protest outside Parliament, claiming that the budget was discriminatory and lacked vision. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party for failing to address basic issues, calling the budget indicative of the government's 'compulsion.'

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram expressed disappointment over the lack of relief for those with existing student loans, despite new student loan provisions. He also noted the reduced allocation of MNREGA funds and criticized the removal of indexation on property sales, which he described as a de facto inheritance tax.

Other opposition leaders, including Congress MPs Rajeev Shukla and Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, accused the budget of prioritizing states governed by BJP allies while neglecting others. Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor highlighted the unmet expectations for Kerala's health sector. The protest, involving leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, saw slogans denouncing the budget as 'discriminatory.'