Uttam Kumar Reddy, the President of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) criticised the Union Budget 2021-2022.
On the 1st of February, the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, presented the Indian Budget for the fiscal year 2021-2022.
After the release of the Union Budget, Mr. Kumar said there is no substantial increase in farmers’ income as told by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Speaking to the media, the Indian National Congress (INC) leader demanded the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Government to allocate funds for the expansion of Metro rail services to the Old Hyderabad and Patancheru in Telangana.
Disappointed with the Union Budget, Mr. Reddy said, “There is nothing in the budget for unemployed youth, farmers, women, students and the sectors that generate jobs have been completely ignored.”
He said, besides some new income tax slabs, nothing has been introduced in the Union Budget to benefit people.
Explaining his disappointments, Uttam Kumar Reddy said, “The budget speech was completely silent on rising unemployment in the country which is at 45 year high. The Finance Minister neither made a mention of unemployment nor proposed any measures to address the problem.”
Further, he said there was no mention of rising inflation in the country.
Mr. Reddy also said, as promised by the Union Government, they have not specified as to how it plans to double the income of farmers by 2022. According to Mr. Reddy, the agriculture growth rate must be at least 11% if the Government wishes to double the farmers’ income by 2022.
Mr. Reddy asked, “Why the Modi Government is not speaking about MS Swaminathan Report, which it promised to implement to provide input cost + 50% as MSP for agriculture produce?”
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the budget was highly disappointing for Telangana State. He said, “The Finance Minister gave no clarity on devolution of taxes to States and when their pending dues would be cleared. Telangana has been facing injustice since 2014-15 and not a single promised made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act has been honoured. While TRS Government failed to make effective representation, the BJP government at the Centre neglected Telangana to the extent as if did doesn’t exists in India’s map (sic.)”
Speaking on behalf of the TPCC and needs of development in the State, Mr. Uttam Kumar mentioned that the INC Members of Parliament (MPs) would raise the issue of over delay in establishing a tribal university, steel plant at Bayyaram, and railway coach factory in Kazipet in the parliament.
Mr. Kumar also demanded a bullet train service between Hyderabad and Vijayawada through the Suryapet route.
Stay tuned for further updates.
