Union Budget 2024: Opposition leaders politicising budget to spread wrong narrative, says Mahayuti

The Mahayuti (NDA) leaders in Maharashtra defended the Union government's announcements on Tuesday as a way to ‘all-inclusive growth and India's run towards becoming a global superpower'. They accused the MVA of creating another ‘fake narrative'.

DCM Devendra Fadnavis said the Opposition leaders' had reacted without reading the budget. "They are busy doing politics for a narrative. Their reactions are preconceived and entertaining. If they read the budget, they will find good provisions for Maharashtra. I still don't have the entire budget, but I could get some information from the highlights," he said, reading out the monetary allotment for the state.

According Fadnavis, Mumbai's MUTP-3 project will get Rs 908 crore and Mumbai Metro Rs 1,087 crore. Other projects mentioned by the deputy chief minister were Vidarbha water resources (Rs 600 crore), rural roads (Rs 400 crore), economic corridor (Rs 466 crore), eco-friendly farming (Rs 598 crore), rural agro mission (Rs 150 crore), DMIC (Rs 499 crore), MMR green urban mobility (Rs 150 crore), Nagpur Metro (Rs 683 crore), Nag river rejuvenation (Rs 500 crore), Pune Metro (Rs 814 crore) and Mula Mutha river conservation (Rs 690 crore). "These are just two to three departments. There will be more as we have asked for. We will know it by tomorrow [Wednesday]," he added.

About Bihar and AP, Fadnavis said every budget had a theme. "This year, it appears to be east and east coast. Last year, it was north-east," he said, adding that the Union government had adopted Maharashtra's apprenticeship scheme for the youth.

Navratna budget: CM

CM Shinde appreciated the budget as an instrument that has strengthened people's trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The budget focuses on several factors such as farmers, women, youth, skill development, employment, basic infrastructure and urban development. It's a navratna budget," he added.

Shinde asked the Opposition leaders if they thought that the budget was only for Maharashtra. "It's a national budget and it has something for all. Will the schemes announced today not benefit Maharashtra? Are tax
benefits not for all?" he asked.

According to Shinde, Maharashtra had made a tremendous growth in the past two years, thanks to the Centre's support. "We resumed all stalled projects and welfare schemes. Maharashtra has the best basic infrastructure. Was it possible without the Centre's help? Let me tell you that we will get whatever we have asked for," said the chief minister, blaming the Opposition for creating yet another fake narrative.

Visionary budget: Ajit Pawar

DCM and finance minister Ajit Pawar said the budget encapsulated the aspirations of a growing and prosperous India. "With special attention on farmers, women, youth, marginalised groups, this budget will help them become self-reliant and add to the empowerment of our society, as has been our honourable PM Shri Narendra Modi-ji's vision," he said in a statement. He said it was a balanced and effective budget, which took the country a step further in becoming a true, self-assured world power.

Rs 908 crore
Amount allotted for Mumbai Urban Transport Project-3