Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy (L) and Nara Chandrababu Naidu (R).
Credit: PTI, Reuters File Photos
Hyderabad: Finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, had opened her budget speech with the lines in Telugu 'Desamante Matti Kadhoy Desamante Manushuloy' of celebrated Telugu poet, Gurajada Appa Rao, but both the Telugu states were given a raw deal in the Union Budget that was presented in the Lok Sabha on Saturday.
BJP is a junior partner in Andhra Pradesh's NDA coalition government. Telangana sends eight BJP MPs to Parliament—the saffron party's highest tally ever from the state. In the last budget that was introduced immediately after the general elections, Andhra Pradesh was in focus, as there was a special mention for the state in the budget speech.
Congress government in Telangana had sought financial assistance worth Rs. 1.63 lakh crore for infrastructure projects, including the Regional Ring Road, Phase 2 of the Hyderabad Metro Rail, the Musi Riverfront Rejuvenation Project, and others.
Chief minister A Revanth Reddy and concerned ministers in the last few months visited Delhi and submitted these proposals to the concerned union ministries seeking to include them in this year's budget allocations.
"Telangana has been significantly contributing to the central government through GST and other taxes, but why is the state not receiving adequate funds in return? The central government is discriminating against Telangana due to the presence of a Congress government in the state,” said Telangana PCC chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud.
Opposition BRS trained its guns towards both Congress and BJP. “Telangana electorate had trusted BJP and Congress and gave eight MPs each. These MPs failed to get even eight paise extra for Telangana. Both Congress and BJP failed Telangana. What happened to Telangana projects? What happened to the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act? Congress and BJP MPs who were supposed to question injustice and indiscrimination have turned mute,” said former minister and BRS senior leader, T Harish Rao.
In Andhra Pradesh, the opposition YSRCP criticised the TDP and Jana Sena MPs for failing to get funds for the state in the union budget. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, on the other hand, praised the budget.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Union Government and Finance Minister, for presenting a pro-people and progressive budget. This budget reflects the vision for a Viksit Bharat under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It prioritises the welfare of women, the poor, youth, and farmers, while also identifying six key sectors for growth over the next five years. The budget marks a significant step towards national prosperity. It serves as a comprehensive and inclusive blueprint, promising a prosperous future for our country. Additionally, it brings tax relief. for the middle class, the backbone of our country's economy. I Welcome this budget,” said Naidu.
Union Budget 2025 | Nirmala Sitharaman, as Finance Minister, presented her record 8th Union Budget this time. While inflation has burnt a hole in the pockets of 'aam janata', the Modi govt gave income tax relief for those making up to Rs 12 lakh per year in salaried income. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analysis only on Deccan Herald. Also follow us on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.