As FM Sitharaman reads out Budget 2024, here's how political leaders reacted to the announcements so far

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents Budget

Political leaders cutting across parties have strongly reacted to the budgetary announcements made so far. From Congress leader Sashi Tharoor to Azad Samaj Party MP Chandra Shekhar Aazad, leaders have dismissed it as not all-encompassing and privileging a section over other.

Azad Samaj Party MP Chandra Shekhar Aazad threatened protest if SCs and STs don't get their share of the Budget. While speaking to news agency ANI, he said, "...If we won't get our share of the Budget then we will put forward our views and protest against it... Those who were not even considered human, what would be given to them (SCs and STs)? According to a report, the MP government diverted SC and ST's budget to animal welfare... We are here to protect the rights of our people..."

Reacting to the announcements, former CM and RJD leader Rabri Devi said: "... Murders and thefts are happening in the state. Labourers are not getting their wages. Youth are not getting employment and farmer issues persist... Rs 26000 crore allotted to Bihar is a 'jhunjhuna'."

TMC MP Sushmita Dev said: "First of all please release the funds of Bengal. Rs 1.6 lakh crores are due. Unemployment is something that the government has put under the carpet... The Finance Minister needs to address the issue very seriously."

Congress MP Jebi Mather said: "The expectations and the buildup given by the government are so high. But what would be the reality of the budget and how they are going to implement will be the biggest question and the challenge for the government... We are at a 45% high unemployment. How are we going to address that?.. The general government debt is about 80% of the GDP. So how are they going to address all these things?.. If it is going to be a people's budget, how they would implement it when the government is in such a high debt position?..."