Political leaders across party lines welcomed the recent tax rebates announced in the Union Budget 2023-24, but some Opposition leaders criticised the Centre for failing to adequately address the issues of unemployment and inflation.
Calling the Union Budget 2023-24 “anti-people” and “totally opportunistic”, West Bengal Chief Minister Wednesday said the Budget was prepared eyeing the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Presenting the Union Budget 2023-24 in the Parliament on Wednesday, Sitharaman announced an increase in the income tax rebate limit from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh under the new tax regime. She added that the new tax regime will now be the default tax regime. This year, encouraging innovation in agriculture, technology and tourism took centre stage. The capital investment outlay has also been increased by 33 per cent to Rs 10 lakh crore, which will account for 3.3 per cent of the GDP.
Slamming the Budget, Banerjee said the changes in the income tax slabs will not help anyone. “This Budget does not address India’s unemployment issue,” news agency PTI quoted her as saying.
Political leaders across party lines welcomed the recent tax rebates announced in the Union Budget 2023-24, but some Opposition leaders criticised the Centre for failing to adequately address the issues of unemployment and inflation in the country.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described Budget 2023-24 as “sarvajan hitai” (for everybody’s welfare), stating that from agriculture to infrastructure to healthcare to education, the budget has covered all the requirements while ensuring growth through enhanced allocations. “The income tax exemptions and restructuring will provide a huge relief to the middle- and lower-middle classes and help them accomplish their aspirations,” Fadnavis said, adding, “The budget has taken into consideration the concerns and growth in each field.”
Reacting to the Union Budget, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, “The seven priorities of the government towards the country and the society mentioned by the finance minister in the budget will benefit every section. This budget presented in ‘Amrit Kaal’ will prove to be a milestone in the making of modern India.”
