Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Responds to Opposition's Budget Bias Allegations

Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times
1y ago
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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the opposition's claims of bias in the Union Budget, stating that 26 states were not specifically mentioned in the 2009 budget either. She defended the current budget allocations and stressed that the government's focus is on equitable development across all states.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Responds to Opposition's Budget Bias Allegations
A What happened
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the opposition's claims of bias in the Union Budget, stating that 26 states were not specifically mentioned in the 2009 budget either. She defended the current budget allocations and stressed that the government's focus is on equitable development across all states.

Key insights

  • 1

    Historical Context: Sitharaman highlighted that in 2009, 26 states were not mentioned in the budget, suggesting a precedent for not listing all states explicitly.

  • 2

    Focus on Inclusivity: The Finance Minister emphasized the current budget's focus on inclusive growth, ensuring development across all states without discrimination.

  • 3

    Opposition's Allegations: Opposition parties have accused the government of bias, alleging that the budget favors certain states over others.

  • 4

    Comparison with Past Budgets: Sitharaman drew comparisons with previous budgets to defend the current budget, arguing that it follows a similar pattern of not explicitly naming every state.