Tharoor Allegations: Union Budget Biased Towards Bihar, Andhra Pradesh

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor accused the Union Budget of being politically driven, favoring states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. He criticized the substantial allocations for infrastructure and financial support in these states, alleging discrimination against opposition-ruled regions such as Karnataka.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has accused the Union Budget of showing discrimination against opposition-ruled states, labeling it as a political budget. Tharoor pointed out that the sum of benefits granted to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh appeared to be politically motivated.

His statement followed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's major budget announcements for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, which included infrastructure boosts and special financial support. Tharoor argued that this selective allocation of funds raised questions about the motives behind the budget.

Highlighting the discrepancy, Tharoor noted that Bihar received Rs 26,000 crore for highways while Karnataka got less than Rs 2,000 crore for Bengaluru's infrastructure. He also criticized the budget for denying calamity relief funds to opposition-governed states. INDIA bloc MPs subsequently protested in Parliament, accusing the budget of being discriminatory.

In her budget speech, Sitharaman announced numerous projects for Bihar, including industrial nodes, new power plants, road connectivity projects, and flood control measures. She also emphasized additional support for capital investments and expedited external assistance for Bihar. Furthermore, the budget allocated funds for developing temple corridors and the Rajgir Jain Temple site.