In a sharp critique of the Union Budget 2024-25, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, condemned the budget for allegedly discriminating against most Indian states. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Kharge accused the Union government of neglecting states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka in the financial allocations.

Kharge's remarks came after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget, which he claimed only favored Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. "No state received anything," Kharge stated, emphasizing the alleged bias. "I was expecting that I'll get the most. But we didn't get anything," he added, referring to his home state, Karnataka.

The Congress president criticized the budget as an effort to "please a few people" and secure political interests rather than focusing on balanced development. ?This budget is designed to protect the chair, not to develop the nation,? Kharge remarked. His comments were met with interruptions from Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, who requested Kharge to allow Sitharaman to respond. However, Kharge continued, ?Main bol deta hun. Mataji bolne mein toh expert hain mujhe maloom hai. (Let me finish. Mataji is expert in speaking, I am aware of that.)?

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Kharge also announced that all INDIA alliance parties would protest against the budget, questioning, ?How will development happen if there is no balance??

In response to Kharge's allegations, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the budget, arguing that it is impossible to mention every state in a budget speech. She pointed out significant projects like the proposed deep sea port in Vadhavan, Maharashtra, which will receive ?76,000 crore. ?Did Maharashtra get ignored because it didn?t name Maharashtra?? Sitharaman asked rhetorically.

Sitharaman dismissed the opposition's allegations as ?outrageous? and accused the Congress party of deliberately misleading the public. "This is a 'deliberate attempt' of the opposition parties led by the Congress to give the people the wrong impression that their states were not allocated funds or schemes," she asserted.

The heated exchange highlights the ongoing political tensions over the budget, with opposition parties rallying to challenge what they perceive as biased financial planning that could hinder balanced national development.