Heated Exchange in Lok Sabha Over Budget 2024

The Lok Sabha saw some intense back and forth today during the discussions on Budget 2024, especially between Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee and Speaker Om Birla.

Banerjee, known for representing West Bengal‘s Diamond Harbour, took the opportunity to criticize the Narendra Modi government, claiming that the controversial three farm laws were passed without proper consultation. He asserted that neither farmers nor opposition parties had any say in the matter.

In response, Speaker Om Birla stepped in, stating, “This House discussed the issue for five-and-a-half hours.” However, Banerjee was not deterred. He insisted on his position, prompting Birla to declare, “When the Speaker speaks, he speaks right. You need to correct yourself.”

Banerjee didn’t stop there; he also questioned the lack of a clear vision in the 2024 budget. He accused the government of catering to its coalition partners instead of addressing the real needs of the people of India.

He specifically pointed fingers at allies JDU and TDP, indicating that the budget seemed overly generous to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, where these allies govern, while neglecting other states. He remarked that the budget was crafted not for the general populace but for two individuals to maintain political goodwill.

As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman fired back, she highlighted how many of Prime Minister Modi’s schemes hadn’t been executed in West Bengal, which raised eyebrows considering Banerjee’s criticisms.

Challenging her claims, Banerjee demanded a white paper that detailed the allocation of funds to Bengal since the BJP’s loss in the 2021 state elections. He also accused the national government of holding back MGNREGA funds and delaying assistance for housing under the PM Awas Yojana.

Throughout his speech, Banerjee made it clear that he believed the BJP was on “borrowed time,” urging them to brace for turmoil ahead.