Hyderabad: A day after Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy targeted Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha over the agriculture sector, BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Dr K Laxman hit out at the Congress for playing politics over the Union Budget 2024-25. Dr Laxman on Tuesday said the Congress was trying to show that the Centre was discriminating against states by making huge allocations only to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. However, opposition parties from Andhra Pradesh questioned the Centre for not allocating anything to Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Centre of allocating funds only to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.
However, Congress MP from Bihar questioned the Centre for not making any allocation to his state. Besides, Telangana Congress leaders and its government in the state have made similar allegations of discrimination against Telangana in the Union Budget and even moved a resolution to this effect in the state assembly. However, the Telangana State Budget proposals for 2024-25 have made a provision of Rs 70,000 crore for tax transfers, grants and others from the Centre. He said all this exposes the Congress’ double speak that not naming states means depriving them of allocations in the Union Budget, which must be condemned. Dr Laxman said even the Telangana State Budget 2024-25 mentions only two or three districts. Does this mean the entire State has been neglected in the State Budget, he asked.
