New Delhi, February 9 The Union Budget has completely disadvantaged India's villages, farmers, and the poor and marginalized sections of society, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Participating in the debate on the Union Budget, he noted that the government has sacrificed the interests of farmers under the India-US trade deal.
"If we examine the Budget closely, it is clearly evident that it is against villages, the poor, farmers, and the marginalized sections of society," Surjewala said.
He noted that the primary focus of the Budget this year has been to reduce provisions and allocations for the needy sections of society.
The Congress leader stated that in the previous Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several schemes such as the Cotton Technology Mission, Mission for Pulses, Mission for Vegetables and Fruits, National Mission on Hybrid Seeds, Makhana Board, and Namo Drone Didi.
He noted that the Cotton Technology Mission and Mission for Pulses received zero allocations in the previous and this year's Budget.
Similar treatment was also given to other schemes, he added.
Surjewala noted that the Namo Drone Didi scheme was launched with a budget of Rs 676 crore.
"Of the Rs 676 crore, Rs 576 crore was held back, and around 500 drones were distributed to approximately 65 crore women in the country under the scheme," he said.
Surjewala said in the agricultural sector, the government failed to utilize approximately Rs 1.17 lakh crore from 2018-19 to 2023-24.
"If we include 2024-25, Rs 1.7 lakh crore has been surrendered," he said.
On the India-US trade deal, Surjewala said the government has sacrificed the rights of farmers.
He noted that the deal document showed that India has opened its market to agri produce from the US.
Besides, there is no clarity regarding the "additional products" listed in the document.
"Are milk, cheese, and foodgrain part of the trade? It is still not clear," Surjewala said.
The government has also cut budgets for SC/STs, rural development, education, and health, he added.
CPI-M member A A Rahim urged the government to stop contractualization and also sought filling of government jobs at the earliest.
He also suggested laws for work-life balance and the right to disconnect.
Jaya Amitabh Bachchan of SP sought details on the amount allocated under the Budget for providing jobs to the unemployed.
She also pointed out the high tax burden on the entertainment industry.
BJP member Ghanshyam Tiwari said the country's budget is now Rs 53,47,315 crore, which was around Rs 17 lakh crore when the Congress left power at the Centre.
"They are alleging that the government has put the interests of farmers at stake in the India-US deal, which was not right. Indian farmers will have access to the US market and some agri products, such as spices, will attract zero duty," he said.
He further said that by eliminating the Planning Commission, the Modi government has tried to eliminate the inertia of the Indian economy. Now, the state governments have more powers and autonomy regarding their growth.
Ashok Kumar Mittal of the AAP said the government says "our GDP is growing, but common people are not getting any benefit from this". The average net income of an Indian is around USD 2,200-2,300 per year, which is even lower than countries such as Namibia and Libya, he said.
Terming the Rs 53.47 lakh crore Union Budget as "hollow from inside", Mittal said that Rs 14 lakh crore will be spent in returning old interest rates. "And after removing pension liabilities, only Rs 35 lakh crore will remain."
He further said that foreign investors are pulling their money back. The total outflow by Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) has reached Rs 1.42 lakh crore. India's net foreign direct investment (FDI) has experienced a dramatic decline to about USD 353 million.
Niran Bishi (BJD), M Dhanapal (AIADMK) and Meenakshi Jain (Nominated) also participated in the discussion.
Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo of J&K demanded a special package for the Union Territory to meet its demands. He also requested the railway minister to connect the Chenab Valley region in J&K, which has three districts -- Kishtwar, Doda, and Ramban.