'Band-aid for bullet wounds': Rahul Gandhi slams Union Budget 2025
What's the story
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has slammed the Union Budget 2025, terming it a "band-aid for bullet wounds."
He made the remarks soon after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget for the financial year 2025-26 in Parliament.
"Amid global uncertainty, solving our economic crisis demanded a paradigm shift. But this government is bankrupt of ideas," he wrote on X.
Budget highlights
Budget 2025's focus and Congress's criticism
The budget, presented by Sitharaman, was centered around four categories: youth, women, farmers, and the poor.
Among the major highlights was the announcement of zero income tax for salaried individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh per annum. This was an increase from the previous exemption limit of ₹7 lakh.
Like Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also slammed the budget for misleading the public and not addressing key economic concerns.
Tax relief
Kharge questions budget's impact on middle class
Kharge emphasized that despite collecting ₹54.18 lakh crore in income tax over the last decade, the government provided only minor tax relief to the middle class.
He pointed out that the exemption up to ₹12 lakh would only save ₹80,000 per year.
He also slammed the budget for not having concrete measures for youth, women, farmers, and marginalized communities.
Kharge noted that there were no major steps for women's empowerment or plans to double farmers' income.
Inadequate provisions
Kharge criticizes lack of measures for marginalized groups
He also noted the lack of concessions in GST on agricultural inputs and plans for health or education for the disadvantaged.
Initiatives like Make in India and Startup India were dismissed by Kharge as hollow announcements, arguing there were no reforms to boost private investment or job creation.
PM Narendra Modi hailed the budget as "people-centric" and a "force multiplier." He said it was a milestone in India's development journey and aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of 140 crore Indians.