Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee slams Union Budget as "anti-people', says NDA government is on "borrowed time"

New Delhi [India], July 24 : Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday launched a strong attack on the Modi government, alleging that the Union Budget lacks clarity or vision, it has been rolled out to satisfy the coalition partners of the BJP and that it "was planned by two individuals to keep another two in good faith".
Taking part in the discussion on the union budget, Abhishek Banerjee claimed that BJP-led NDA government is "on borrowed time" and "it is creaky, shaky coalition".
"It's a budget without any clarity or vision which has been rolled out to satisfy the coalition partners of the BJP....this Budget was planned by two individuals to keep another two in good faith," he alleged, referring to Budget announcements for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. JD-U is in power in Bihar and TDP in Andhra Pradesh and the BJP-led government is dependent on support of the two parties for its survival.
Referring to the results of Lok Sabha polls in which the BJP did not get majority on its own, Banerjee alleged that it is "rejection of authoritativeness".
"It's a clear rejection of authoritativeness. It's a rejection of arrogance, divisive politics and empty promises. The message from the electorate of this country is loud and clear," he said.
Referring to the acronyms used by the BJP-led government for its various schemes, Banerjee said he will reply to to the government "in a language they understand".
"Amidst the all failures in the last decade, the PM and his government achieved something truly remarkable. A world class collection of abbreviations. Every new initiative feels like almost a linguistic surprise. Hundred and ten names. I want to reply to this government in a language they understand," he said.
"This is a creaky shaky coalition govt. It is so uncertain and fragile and can implode anytime. B-U-D-G-E-T B for Betrayal U for Unemployment D for Deprived G for Guarantee (Zero warranty) E for Eccentric T for Tragedy," he added.
He accused BJP-led government of "betraying housewives, daily wage earners, farmers".
"B for betrayal. BJP promised Ache din before coming to power In 2014. What have they done? Betrayed citizens. Betrayed housewives. Betrayed daily wage earners. Betrayed farmers. Price rise, 63 crore people earn less than Rs 308 a day. And 18 crore people earned Rs 180 a day. If the NDA government in the last ten years had spent even a quarter of the time it dedicated to political witch-hunting and addressed the real issue for the interest of the people India would not be ranking 111th out of 125 countries in the world in the global hunger index. They spoke about 'sab ka saath, sab ka vikas' which turned into 'jo hamare saath, ham un ke saath'," he said. .
"The only thing that is growing faster than price rise and inflation is the BJP's list of broken promises," he added.
He alleged that 'G' in Budget 2024 stands for guarantee with zero warranty and went to elaborate on his definition of budget.
BJP members accused him of using unparliamentary words for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded that these should be expunged.
Banerjee emphasised that the essence of coalition politics should be cooperation and collaboration and alleged that the "budget as an exercise in appeasement and compensation" ironic for a party that denounces appeasement politics.
He alleged discrimination with West Bengal in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and release of MGNREGA funds.
He said the government had failed to keep up its promises and also criticised the its handling of rail safety.
Banerjee accused the government of weaponising central agencies to carry out politically motivated witch hunts against opposition leaders "like many of us including me".
"They did not stop at me or my wife, my elderly parents, my PA, my advocate, even my seven-year-old daughter and four year son were not spared. BJP tried to make an example out of me by setting an example for rest of the country to see by getting ED, CBI go after me. But what did the people do..the people of may constituency elected me third time with a margin of 7.10 lakh votes... If I have to bow, I'll bow before the power of the people, I'll not bow before the people in power," he said. Banerjee has been elected from Diamond Harbour constituency in West Bengal.
"Keep some patience and tighten your seatbelts; the weather is about to turn stormy," he added.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.