On February 11, CPI(ML) Liberatiom MPs Raja Ram Singh and Sudama Prasad walked out on Nirmala Sitharaman reply in parliament to debate on budget for failing to address the major issues faced by the people/ They noted that the budget failed to address the keys issues affecting people of Bihar and the nation. Despite the finance minister repeating Bihar's name in her speech numerous times, the failure of the government to address pressing questions of youth, farmers, women, poor and marginalized has exposed the hypocrisy of BJP led NDA at centre. They said the budget failed to address the following:
1) To declare special status to Bihar.
2) Include the increased reservation for communities in Bihar after caste census in 9th schedule.
3) To address the concerns and inclusion of share-croppers who form 70% of the farming community into PM KISAN scheme.
4) Despite repeated popular movements on ground and demands from people, the government has failed to initiate the construction of Indrapuri reservoir (Kadwan Dam). The government has failed to renovate and modernise the historic irrigation canals of Sone River canals which are a lifeline for farmers.
5) To address the issue of unemployment among the youth with increased budgetary support and filling the vacant central government jobs.
Earlier on February 7, speaking on the budget in the house, Com. Sudama Prasad said that the Union Budget of Rs 50,65,345 crore for the year 2025-26 is a budget that increases the burden of the common needy by giving relief to the corporates. The public wanted a budget that would reduce the growing economic inequality and increase the purchasing power of the common man. The middle class has got some relief in income tax. The Government spent Rs 93,978 crore less on central schemes than the amount announced in the budget last year.
He further added that the allocation of the Agriculture and Welfare Department has been reduced in the budget. The budget of the Food and Public Distribution Department has also been reduced. Only Rs 600 crore was spent out of Rs 1,435 crore on the budget for skill development and entrepreneurship. The Government has increased foreign investment in the insurance sector by 100 percent, while the allocation in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been reduced. In the year 2014-15, Rs 4.49 lakh crore was received from corporate tax and Rs 2.66 lakh crore from the general public. These increased to Rs 9.11 lakh crore and Rs 10.45 lakh crore respectively in the year 2023-24. The truth of the decline in the real wage rate of workers and their decreasing opportunities for regular employment has been ignored. The claim of doubling the income of farmers has proved to be completely hollow.
“Real wages decreased, but corporate profits increased fourfold. The Government has given relief to the middle class by giving tax exemptions up to Rs 12 lakh. After the new education policy in 2020, people are having to take loans to study even in Government institutions. Especially footpath shopkeepers and small and medium businessmen should be given interest-free loans of Rs 2 lakh each for five years. Bihar should be given the status of a special state,” noted Com. Sudama Prasad.
