Anwarulhaq Baig
New Delhi: The Union Budget 2024, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and Muslim leaders, who have labelled it as “discriminatory,” “anti-minority,” and a “kursi bachao” (save your seat) budget. Opposition parties, including the INDIA bloc, heavily criticized the Union Budget for favouring only Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, while ignoring all other states in funding and schemes, and decided to boycott the July 27 NITI Aayog meeting in protest. On the other side, Muslim leaders expressed disappointment over its neglect of marginalized communities, including minorities.
Opposition Parties Condemn “Discriminatory Federalism” and “Kursi Bachao” Budget
Many opposition leaders have dubbed the budget as a “kursi bachao” (save your seat) budget, alleging that it caters to the BJP’s political allies at the expense of other states and the general public. They accused the Union government of practicing “discriminatory federalism” instead of cooperative federalism. Opposition leaders have also criticized the budget for failing to adequately address key issues like unemployment and inflation. They have demanded increased allocations for social welfare schemes, measures to tackle unemployment and inflation, and a more equitable distribution of resources among states.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge termed the budget a “copycat” and alleged that it is designed to save the Modi government rather than for the progress of the country. He pointed out that except for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, several major states received nothing in the budget allocation.
“This is not a budget for the ‘progress of the country’, it is a ‘save Modi government’ budget!” Kharge declared. He criticized the lack of revolutionary schemes for Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes, minorities, and the rural poor, comparing it unfavorably to initiatives implemented by the Congress-led UPA government.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi echoed this sentiment, branding the budget as a “Kursi Bachao Budget” that makes empty promises to allies while neglecting other states and ordinary citizens.
Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose accused the government of engaging in “discriminatory federalism,” stating that the budget appeases only Bihar and Andhra Pradesh with special funds and status, neglecting other states. She labeled it a “Modi bachao Budget” (save Modi budget).
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “Development measures for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh are driven by the BJP’s political compulsion to save its government.” He questioned the lack of substantial allocations for Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state and the Prime Minister’s home state.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor pointed out the absence of any mention of MNREGA in the budget and insufficient measures to improve the income of the common person. He described it as an “underwhelming budget” that doesn’t address the key issues facing the common man.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh highlighted cuts in various sectors, including defense, health, agriculture, fertilizer subsidies, transport, pensions, and food subsidies. He sarcastically remarked that while these essential areas faced cuts, the budget for teaching Manusmriti (an ancient Hindu legal text) was increased.
Prominent farmer leader and National spokesperson of Bhartiya Kisan Union, Rakesh Tikait denounced the budget as deceptive, asserting that it fails to genuinely address the needs of farmers on the ground. Tikait criticized the government’s emphasis on theoretical benefits and subsidies for agricultural development, lamenting the absence of concrete measures such as fair crop pricing, free power supply, and reduced taxes on farming equipment.
Meanwhile, chief ministers from nearly all opposition-led states have declared their intention to boycott the upcoming NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for July 27. This unified action comes in direct response to what they perceive as an unfair and discriminatory Union Budget 2024. Several other opposition-ruled state chief ministers, including those from Tamil Nadu , Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Jharkhand, and Punjab, have also decided to boycott the meeting.
Cuts in Minority Welfare Schemes
The budget for the Ministry of Minority Affairs saw only a marginal increase of 2.7% from the previous year, amounting to just 0.07% of the government’s total outlay. Several key minority welfare schemes faced significant cuts:
– Coaching and allied schemes for minorities reduced from ₹30 crore to ₹10 crore
– Interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas education cut from ₹21 crore to ₹15.30 crore
– Education scheme for Madrasas and Minorities slashed from ₹10 crore to ₹2 crore
– Pre-Matric Scholarship for Minorities decreased from ₹433 crore to ₹326.16 crore
While the Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities saw an increase, other crucial areas like skill development and livelihood schemes faced drastic cuts.
Muslim Leaders Express Disappointment
Prominent Muslim leaders have voiced their disappointment with the budget, particularly regarding allocations for minority welfare schemes. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Vice President Prof. Salim Engineer called the budget “disappointing for the poor, the marginalized, SC and STs, and religious minorities of India.” He criticized the drastic reduction in budgetary allocations for minority schemes, noting that the Ministry of Minority Affairs received just 0.06% of the total budget. “We expect at least 1% of the budget to be spent on the welfare of minorities,” the JIH Vice President stated.
Prof. Salim pointed out that despite increasing allocations for health and education, they remain inadequate at 1.88% and 3.07% of GDP respectively, far below the recommended levels. He called for these figures to be raised to at least 4% for health and 6% for education. He urged the government to move towards an interest-free economy, promoting interest-free microfinance and banking to boost economic growth and reduce social unrest.
Similarly, AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal from Assam criticized the budget allocation as insufficient and symbolic, particularly noting the meager provisions made for minority communities. Ajmal expressed dismay over what he termed a “lollipop” approach towards minority welfare, highlighting the nominal budgetary allocations that he believes will have little impact on improving their socio-economic conditions.
Maharashtra’s president of the SP, MLA Abu Asim Azmi, expressed deep disappointment, highlighting what he described as the government’s failure to address the concerns of minority communities. He criticized the budget for maintaining policies that he believes perpetuate social and economic disparities, particularly those affecting marginalized groups. Mr. Azmi pointed out reductions in funding for educational schemes aimed at minorities, noting a significant 93% decrease from the previous year’s allocation. He also raised concerns over the minimal increase in scholarships for minority students under the new budget, emphasizing the government’s continued lack of commitment to equitable development.
Rais Shaikh, MLA from Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, highlighted the budget’s emphasis on temple tourism, particularly in Bihar and Odisha, at the apparent exclusion of Maharashtra’s cultural and religious sites, including those of minority communities.
Former state minister and acting president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, Arif Naseem Khan, said the budget clearly shows the central government’s “anti-minority stance.” He added that the budget offers nothing for the poor and fails to address unemployment issues.
Karnataka’s Minister for Housing, Minority Welfare, and Waqf, Zameer Ahmed Khan denounced the budget for allegedly neglecting the interests of the poor. He slammed the central government for not allocating sufficient funds for the welfare and development of minorities across the country. He said, “according to Union Gudget, a total of ₹3183 crore has been allocated for minorities nationwide, whereas Karnataka alone has been allotted ₹3075 crore for minority welfare. This disparity suggests that the BJP aims to marginalize minorities to some extent.” He questioned whether the central government considers minorities as equal citizens of the country or not?
Senior Congress leader and advisor to the Telangana government on minority and weaker sections, Mohammed Ali Shabbir, criticized the central budget for overlooking the welfare of minorities. He remarked that minorities feel disheartened by the budget, highlighting discrepancies in fund allocation. Shabbir noted that while the budget for minority welfare was marginally increased from ₹3097.60 crore in 2023-24 to ₹3183.24 crore in 2024-25, it remains inadequate. He also pointed out reductions in allocations for scholarships and educational loans, suggesting an unjust approach towards minorities by the Modi government over the past decade.