Hazaribagh: Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha on Thursday said the Union Budget should focus on taming inflation and accelerating economic growth.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha on July 23.
Talking to PTI Videos, Sinha emphasised that GDP should grow at 8 per cent to eradicate poverty in the country.
"Budget should talk about addressing the issues of inflation and accelerating growth," said Sinha who was finance minister in the Vajpayee government.
Sinha also questioned the Modi government's claim of bringing 25 crore people out of poverty in the last 10 years by saying, "The question is that if there are only 5 crore poor why are we giving free food to 82 crore people and this is a major contradiction." He further said the Budget should focus on reducing government spending which in turn will reduce the Centre's market borrowings.
Sinha said that the opposition parties are continuously raising issues related to unemployment.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the interim Budget on February 1, 2024. Ahead of the Union Budget 2024 presentation, news emerged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may face troubles this time, to accommodate the wishes of his alliance partners JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu. However, it is more likely that the Budget will be a feel-good one, coming on the back of the Rs 2.11 lakh crore record dividend to the union government from the RBI.
Union Budget 2024 | Making a record for any Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting her 7th Union Budget on July 23, 2024 under the Modi 3.0 government. While inflation has burnt a hole in the pockets of 'aam janata', will this Budget spell relief for Indians? 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.
Published 18 July 2024, 18:02 IST