Congress party is nautanki, done nothing in 55 years: Chandrashekhar Bawankule

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 24 (ANI): Hitting out at the Congress for criticising the Union Budget presented by the Finance Minister on Tuesday, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that the party is only engaged in “nautanki” (popular folk performance).

Bawankule claimed that Congress had done nothing for people in the last 55 years and had taken votes from people after confusing them.

“Congress party is a nautanki, the one that dances…They have done nothing in 55 years whether constructing roads or for farmers…Congress has taken votes by confusing them. We worked for the votes we won…,” the Maharashtra BJP president said.

Bawankule said that while the Congress cares only about Television Rating Points (TRP), Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has admitted himself that he does not have much understanding of the Budget.

“They (Congress) cares only about TRPs…Uddhav Thackeray has himself said that he does not understand the Budget. I don’t think he has a right to comment on it. They are doing nautanki,” the senior BJP leader said.

Bawankule said that the Budget will steer India on the path of Viksit Bharat (developed India) as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the party manifesto ahead of the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking about Maharashtra which is gearing up for the state assembly elections, Bawankule said, “In the coming 5 years, Maharashtra will see unprecedented development under the double-engine government.”

The Maharashtra BJP chief even claimed that the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi might stop all schemes of the ruling Mahayuti government in the state if they came to power after the Assembly elections.

“People of the state have understood that the INDI alliance leaders are liars and have deceived people for votes. If MVA wins, they will stop all schemes of the double-engine government, including the ‘Ladli Behna Scheme’…,” Bawankule said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her record seventh consecutive Union Budget 2024-25 on Tuesday during the Budget Session of Parliament. She makes history as the first finance minister to present seven consecutive budget speeches, surpassing former Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s record of six consecutive budgets as finance minister between 1959 and 1964.

FM Sitharaman outlined key priorities aimed at fostering economic growth and creating ample opportunities. The priorities include Productivity and Resilience in Agriculture, Employment skills, and services.

She listed productivity and resilience in agriculture, employment and skilling, inclusive human resource development and social justice, manufacturing and services, urban development, energy security, infrastructure, innovation, research and development, and next-generation reforms as nine priority areas for the government.

In her budget speech, Sitharaman introduced an increased standard deduction and revised tax rates for salaried individuals under the new tax regime. Sitharaman announced a significant set of income-tax reforms for the fiscal year 2024-25, aimed at simplifying tax laws, promoting compliance, and fostering economic growth.

Sitharaman, in her budget speech, proposed the creation of employment for about 4.1 crore youth over the next five years. Towards this, the finance minister has made an allocation of Rs 2 lakh crore.

Similarly, for skilling the citizens so as to generate job opportunities, she proposed Rs 1.48 crore. 20 lakh youth will be skilled over a five-year period. A total of 1,000 industrial training institutes will be upgraded.