Cong holds rally in city criticizing Union budget

Agartala, Jul 26, 2024, By Our Correspondent

Frontal organizations of the Tripura Pradesh Congress  organized a protest rally in Agartala on Friday criticising the central government’s budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. The rally began in front of the Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) headquarters and proceeded through various routes in the city, with participants loudly chanting slogans against what they termed as the "anti-people budget introduced by the Modi government." The protest culminated in the burning of budget copies by party leaders and activists as a symbolic act of defiance.

Neel Kamal Saha, president of the Tripura Pradesh Youth Congress, addressed reporters during the protest, expressing strong disapproval of the budget. He remarked, “This is a Budget of the Corporates, By the Corporates, and For the Corporates. It offers nothing for the unemployed youth, the farmers, and the middle-class.” Saha criticized the budget for its lack of provisions aimed at addressing the needs of these crucial segments of the population.

Furthermore, Saha slammed the BJP government for allocating a disproportionately higher budget to states like Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. He argued that this decision was politically motivated, aimed at securing the support of key allies. “The Modi government is well aware that if Naidu and Nitish withdraw their support, the NDA government will collapse immediately. This is why Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have been allotted a higher budget, whereas our state of Tripura and other Indian states have been deprived of equitable funding,” Saha asserted.

Congress leaders echoed these sentiments, claiming that the Union Budget was designed to benefit corporates while neglecting the common people. They argued that the budget showed no signs of delivering on Prime Minister Modi’s promise of 'Acche Din' (Good Days) for the masses. Instead, they felt it prioritized the interests of big businesses over the welfare of ordinary citizens.

The protest saw the participation of several prominent Congress figures, including Pradesh Congress district president Tanmoy Roy and Pradesh Mahila Morcha president Sarbani Ghosh Chakraborty, among others. These leaders stood united in their criticism of the budget and their call for a more inclusive and equitable fiscal policy that addresses the needs of all sections of society. The rally and subsequent demonstration underscored the Congress party's commitment to challenging policies they perceive as unjust and advocating for the rights and welfare of the people.