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Moments after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2024 in Parliament on Tuesday, the Congress attacked the Centre saying a part of the fiscal document was borrowed from the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.
Former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said he was “happy” the Union finance minister “has virtually adopted the Employment-linked incentive (ELI) outlined on page 30 of the Congress Manifesto”.
“I am glad to know that the Hon’ble FM has read the Congress Manifesto LS 2024 after the election results I am happy she has virtually adopted the Employment-linked incentive (ELI) outlined on page 30 of the Congress Manifesto… I am also happy that she has introduced the Apprenticeship scheme along with an allowance to every apprentice spelt out on page 11 of the Congress Manifesto I wish the FM had copied some other ideas in the Congress Manifesto. I shall shortly list the missed opportunities,” said Chidambaram.
In her Budget address, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government will provide a month’s wage to all employees entering the workforce in all formal sectors. The direct benefit transfer of one month’s salary in three instalments to first-time employees as registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will be up to Rs 15,000, she said. While the eligibility limit will be Rs 1 lakh per month, the scheme is likely to benefit 210 lakh youth in the country.
Congress MP and communications in charge Jairam Ramesh said Nirmala Sitharaman has “taken a leaf out of” the Congress manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. “The Finance Minister has taken a leaf out of the INC’s Nyay Patra 2024, with its internship program clearly modelled on the INC’s proposed Apprenticeship Program that was called Pehli Naukri Pakki,” he said.
“However, in their trademark style, the scheme has been designed to grab headlines, with arbitrary targets (1 crore internships) rather than a programmatic guarantee for all diploma holders and graduates, like the Indian National Congress had envisioned,” said Ramesh.
Jairam also took a dig at the government over the special package for Andhra Pradesh, saying, “Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a special package of Rs 15,000 crore for Andhra Pradesh in the Union Budget today, which would also help develop Amaravati, the state’s capital city and Chief Minister Chandhababu Naidu’s dream project.”
“Why has it taken 10 years to announce that what was already committed to in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 will be implemented?” asked Jairam in a post on X.
