Chidambaram slams budget in Rajya Sabha, calls it politically motivated

Initiating discussion on budget in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Congress MP P Chidambaram said it's politically motivated as it ignored the poor and bottom half of the population. "Budget was politically driven... I congratulate the finance minister for achieving one of her objectives a couple of days ago," he said. "She (Nirmala Sitharaman) did nothing. But she was focussed on the income tax and she was focussed on Delhi elections... She remembered the middle class but what about the section of people she has forgotten?"

Chidambaram also asked if external affairs minister S Jaishankar raised the issue of handcuffing of Indians being deported from the US in his meeting with US secretary of state Marco Rubio before deportation. Leader of the House JP Nadda retorted why such questions were not raised when similar action happened in the UPA regime.

DMK MP Tiruchi Siva said: "Budget is not merely a statement of accounts, but one of intent. Our prime minister has described this budget as a 'roadmap for Viksit Bharat'. But the numbers reveal that the path seems only a mirage."


BJP MP Dinesh Sharma praised the FM for presenting a budget that 'will propel the country towards Viksit Bharat'. He noted the country is moving towards becoming an innovation hub. JDU's Sanjay Jha thanked the FM for giving special attention to Bihar.

SP's Ram Gopal Yadav said the government has reduced allocation for crucial sectors such as agriculture, education, health and infrastructure. AIADMK's Thambidurai, Shiv Sena's Milind Deora, YSRCP's Golla Baburao, BJD's Debashish Samantaray and several others spoke during the debate.