Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Budget 2024 just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the budget, highlighting the focus on controlling the fiscal deficit and historic capital expenditure. He also emphasized the importance of the budget in meeting the aspirations of young India and announced a fund for research and innovation. While several union ministers welcomed the budget, the Opposition criticized it, with Congress leader Shashi Tharoor calling it ‘very disappointing’.
BJP national president JP Nadda praised the budget for laying the foundation of a developed India, highlighting revolutionary steps such as the housing scheme for the middle class and targeting alleviation of poverty. Jyotiraditya Scindia also praised the budget as historic, signaling India’s progress. On the other hand, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor criticized the budget for being short on concrete implementation and substance. Supriya Shrinate and Priyanka Chaturvedi pointed out that the budget did not address the problems of common people, employment, agriculture, or women, with Chaturvedi stating that it poured cold water on public expectations. Congress leader Sachin Pilot referred to the finance minister’s speech as sounding like an election speech, while Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accused the budget of trying to woo people in the Lok Sabha elections. Swati Maliwal also found the budget disappointing, as it did not address inflation and unemployment. Overall, the Interim Budget 2024 drew mixed political reactions, with both praise and criticism from different parties.