Budget 2024: Nirmala Sitharaman rejects criticism by opposition

The Finance Minister announced Rs. 15,000 crore allocation for the development of Amaravati, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, in the Union Budget 2024.

The Union Budget 2024, presented by Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has created quite a stir among people, especially in the opposition. However, Nirmala Sitharaman rejects criticism from the opposition. In the Union Budget 2024, she announced a Rs. 15,000 crore allocation for the development of Amaravati, the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rejects criticism by the opposition.

On Friday, July 26, Nirmala Sitharaman rejected criticisms by the opposition that claimed that only Bihar and Andhra Pradesh were given importance in the latest Union Budget. The opposition parties alleged that Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, governed by the Janata Dal (United) and Telugu Desam Party, respectively, members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are being preferred over non-BJP states.

“No state had been denied anything,” says the Finance Minister.

Speaking for an interview with NDTV, the Finance Minister said that the states are receiving allocations as they did in the past, stating that no state had been denied anything. She said the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act requires the Center to support the southern state in building its new capital city, Amaravati, and developing the backward regions.

Rs. 15,000 allocation for Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh’s capital.

In the Union Budget 2024, Nirmala Sitharaman announced a Rs. 15,000 allocation for the development of Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh’s capital, while stating that the government is committed to advancing the Polavaram Irrigation Project. She told NDTV, “Several steps have been taken in the last 10 years (and) many other steps, as per the Act, which had to be done have been done. Yes, we will support (the building of the new capital, Amaravati, and the Polavaram irrigation project) … Polavaram should have been completed, but there are some technical issues. The state government is seized of the matter.”

When asked if fuel prices would be reduced, she said, “If they fix the rate and all come together… and decide that GST will include petroleum products, then we can implement it immediately.”