Congress Leader Hooda Criticizes Union Budget for Neglecting Haryana

Deepender Singh Hooda lambastes the Union Budget 2024-25, accusing the Centre of neglecting Haryana. He warns that Haryana's people might forget BJP in the upcoming elections. Hooda also calls the budget disappointing for not addressing unemployment and inflation, and lacking relief for the poor and farmers.

Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda launched a scathing critique of the Union Budget 2024-25 on Friday, alleging that Haryana has been ignored. He claimed that this neglect would result in the people of Haryana forgetting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the forthcoming assembly elections.

'As per Article 1 of the Constitution, Bharat is a union of states. Is talking about Haryana wrong? Does the Union budget not consider Haryana part of the country?' questioned Hooda in Parliament. He warned, 'If you forget about Haryana in the Union budget, then the people of Haryana will also forget you after three months.'

Earlier in the week, Hooda pointed out that the budget focused on Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, without mentioning several other states, including Haryana. He criticized the budget for its failure to address record unemployment and rising inflation, and for not providing relief to the poor and farmers.

Emphasizing the oversight, Hooda noted that Bihar and Andhra Pradesh received project allocations. With Haryana set for assembly polls this year, he warned, 'If they forget Haryana, the people of the state will forget the lotus (BJP symbol).'

According to Hooda, names of many states were omitted, and Haryana did not receive any significant mention or allocation. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered the first Union Budget of the Modi 3.0 government, highlighting nine key priorities aimed at economic growth and opportunities. The budget included significant announcements for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)