Rahul Gandhi Calls Union Budget 'Band-Aid For Bullet Wounds' As Congress Slams Govt For ‘Cruelly Ignoring’ Andhra

Shortly after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday presented the Union Budget 2025, Congress took a jibe at the Modi government over the announcements, highlighting the focus on Bihar, while raising questions on the lack of support for Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi called the Budget a "band-aid for bullet wounds" as he slammed the Centre of being "bankrupt of ideas". 

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Gandhi wrote, "A band-aid for bullet wounds!
Amid global uncertainty, solving our economic crisis demanded a paradigm shift. But this government is bankrupt of ideas".

A band-aid for bullet wounds!

Amid global uncertainty, solving our economic crisis demanded a paradigm shift.

But this government is bankrupt of ideas.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 1, 2025

Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said, Bihar got a "bonanza" but Andhra Pradesh has been "cruelly ignored" in the Union Budget 2025. Bihar's ruling Janata Dal (United) and the Telugu Desam Party in power in Andhra are both key members of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. 

Ramesh further noted sarcastically that announcements for Bihar are "natural since (an Assembly) election is due there later in the year". 

"Bihar appears to have got a bonanza of announcements. It is natural since an election is due there later in the year. But why has the other pillar of the NDA, namely Andhra Pradesh, been so cruelly ignored?" Mr Ramesh posted on X.

Bihar appears to have got a bonanza of announcements. It is natural since elections are due there later in the year. But why is the other pillar of the NDA, namely Andhra Pradesh, been so cruelly ignored?

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 1, 2025

Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Union Budget for fiscal 2025-26, made several announcements for Bihar, including financial supportfor the Western Kosi canal, establishment of a Makhana Board, and efforts to increase the capacity of IIT Patna. 

The budget also included a plan to se up a National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Management in Bihar, and facilitation of greenfield airports to addrees the future needs of the state.

Jairam Ramesh Says 'Tax-Terrorism' A 'Real Issue' Of Economy

In a series of tweets, the Congress leader further criticised various aspects of the budget, pointing out that the economy suffers from four related crises, including stagnant real wages, lack of buoyancy in mass consumption, sluggish rates of private investment, and a complicated GST system.

"The Budget does NOTHING to address these illnesses. The only relief has been for income tax payers. What actual impact this will have on the economy remains to be seen..." he said.

The economy is suffering from four related crises -

i. Stagnant real wages
ii. Lack of buoyancy in mass consumption
iii. Sluggish rates of private investment
iv. A complex and complicated GST system

The Budget does NOTHING to address these illnesses.

The only relief has been…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 1, 2025

Jairam Ramesh also listed several "real issues" of the economy as he continued to slam the Budget, saying how the government has not done anything about "tax-terrorism", unemployment, inflation, and inequality, and instead made the GST more complicated and burdensome.

He claimed that the announcement for tax relaxation was made keeping in mind the middle class in Delhi due to the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. He stressed that the farmers, locals, small businessowners, labourers, and small traders have not got any relief.

"Vocals have got relief but what do the locals have got? That is the question. Last 10 years, real wage rates have stagnated. Mass consumption has not increased, rate of private investment has not increased, GST has become complex, complicated and become a burden...the real issues of the economy have been ignored...real issues of inequality, price rice...lack of private investment, 'tax-terrorism' ...those are the real issues of the economy," he said.

#WATCH | #UnionBudget2025 | Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, " Vocals have got relief but what do the locals have got? That is the question. Last 10 years, real wage rates have stagnated. Mass consumption has not increased, rate of private investment has not increased, GST has… pic.twitter.com/wrectmci26

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2025

Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari also hit out at the Centre on this matter, calling the Union Budget a "budget for Government of Bihar".

"I fail to understand... was this a budget of Government of India or Government of Bihar? Did you hear the name of another state in the entire speech of the Union Finance Minister?"Tewari said.

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In July last year, Sitharaman presented her seventh consecutive budget, keepng both states Bihar and Andhra Pradesh in focus. She had also announced major infrastructure projects in Bihar and a significant financial aid for Andhra.

She had said the central government would provide Rs 15,000 crore for the development of Amaravati, the state's new capital.

Bihar, on the other hand, got Rs 26,000 crore for road projects along with promises of sports infrastructure and new airports, and Rs 11,500 crore for flood mitigation.

The big announcements for Bihar in this year's budget come months ahead of the Bihar Assembly election, where Nitish Kumar has led JDU in numeorus flip-flops, jumping from BJP's camp to the opposition.

ALSO READ: 'Budget 2025 Not To Fill Govt Coffers, But To Fill Citizens' Pockets': PM Modi