When the world's economies were hit by crisis, India still waved its flag

In the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, while continuing the discussion on the general budget for the financial year 2026-27, members of the ruling party termed it as the budget for a developed India, while the opposition alleged that it has ignored the common people.

Pranika Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena (UBT) from Maharashtra said that the elderly have been ignored in the budget. It is estimated that by 2050, around 30 crore citizens will be over 60 years old. The concession given in railway fares was stopped during Corona, which has not been restored yet. She demanded an increase in the income tax exemption limit for medical expenses.

Madan Rathore of BJP from Rajasthan said that during the UPA era, foreign direct investment was $98 billion, which has now increased to $165 billion. India has become the world's second-largest mobile manufacturer. The atomic energy capacity has increased from 4,780 MW to 8,880 MW. The current government has built new AIIMS, IITs, and airports. The construction of national highways has increased from 12 km per day to 28 km per day. The government has increased the minimum support prices for various crops.

G.C. Chandrashekar of Congress from Karnataka said that the agreement with the US will harm "Make in India". He said that the effect of "acche din" and "amrit kal" has been that in 2014, the BJP had Rs 295 crore, which has now increased to Rs 10,000 crore, an industrialist whose wealth was Rs 44,000 crore has now become Rs 12-13 lakh crore, but the income of farmers has not doubled yet. He termed the budget as corporate-friendly.

Shambhu Sharan Patel of BJP from Bihar said that this budget is going to make India a developed country from a developing country by 2047. Today, India is the fourth-largest economy in the world and will become the third-largest economy in a few years. Rs 3,200 crore has been allocated for the Mukhyamantri Kisan Sahay Yojana, which will benefit the farmers and laborers of Bihar.

Mainak Kumar Naik of BJP from Gujarat said that this budget has been presented to fulfill the dream of a developed India. In the last 11 years, the government has made schemes to provide water, electricity, roads, health, and education in villages. This budget has ensured that people in villages get employment under the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana and the developed India "G-Ram-G" scheme.

Kesari Devi Singh Jhala of BJP from Gujarat, while praising the budget, said that when the world's economies are in crisis, India is waving its flag. When the GDP of the world is between 2-3 percent, China is also growing at a rate of 4-5 percent, India is growing at a rate of more than 7 percent.

P. Sandosh Kumar of the Communist Party from Kerala criticized the budget, saying that there is nothing for the common people in it. He said that nothing has been done for Kerala in the budget. If the center gets an income of Rs 100 from Kerala, at least Rs 50 should be returned, but only Rs 25 is being returned.

Amar Pal Maurya of BJP from Uttar Pradesh termed the budget as "Antyodaya" and "Garib Kalyan" budget. He alleged that when the President was addressing the joint meeting of both houses, the opposition protested because she is a poor tribal woman.

Seema Devi of BJP from Uttar Pradesh called the budget the foundation of a developed India by 2047 and said that the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Yojana will benefit the villagers and artisans. She demanded the establishment of an Ayurvedic institution in Uttar Pradesh.

Rajib Bhattacharjee of BJP from Tripura said that in the last 11 years, the scope of social security has increased from 19 percent to 64 percent. The government has taken 25 crore people out of the poverty line. There has been a 14 percent increase in the education budget and a 10 percent increase in the health budget. An arrangement of Rs 11,486 crore has been made to increase rail connectivity in the Northeast.

Bansi Lal Gurjar of BJP from Madhya Pradesh said that this budget is for empowering the poor, youth, farmers, and women. The farmer is at the top of the Modi government's agenda. Through the schemes brought by the government in the last 11 years, the farmer is becoming strong. During this, the budget for agriculture has been increased eight times.

Dorji Tshering Lepcha of BJP said that this budget is a commitment to achieving policy clarity, fiscal balance, and development measures together. He welcomed the announcements made for the expansion of connectivity facilities for Sikkim through the Northeast gateway.

In her maiden speech, BJP's Sadhna Singh supported the budget and criticized the opposition's approach of finding fault in everything the government does. Dinesh Sharma of the same party said that this budget sets the direction for the coming decade. He called it a "commitment to convert hope into plans and plans into results".

Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde of BJP praised the finance minister for increasing the defense budget. He mentioned the lapse of 1962 in the protection of the country's borders. He thanked the government for making arrangements of Rs 98,000 crore for Maharashtra and mentioned the recent Panchayat Raj elections in the state, saying that a "triple engine government" has been formed there.

Janata Dal (U)'s Khiru Mahato supported the budget, mentioning the allocation made for railway projects in Bihar.

Subhash Barala of BJP thanked the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for an 11-fold increase in the allocation for Haryana compared to the UPA era. He said that the fertilizer use policy implemented by the Haryana government in collaboration with farmers has resulted in a saving of Rs 700 crore for the state. He said that other states can learn from Haryana in this matter.

E.F. Nongneng of BJP said that this budget is going to strengthen India's position in the world. She said that the multi-fiber scheme for the textile sector and the Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj scheme will greatly benefit the traditional textiles, garments, and handicrafts sector of the Northeast. She said that "in the Northeast, we are the custodians of a living tradition of preserving traditional knowledge. Our centuries-old traditions can become the strength of the economy with policy support."

She also welcomed the announcement of new aspects for mental health services in the Northeast, saying that "investment in the mental health sector is an investment in human resources." She termed the expansion of mental health services as important for the goal of a developed India.

Dharmshila Gupta of BJP said that the provision of zero import duty on 17 medicines for the treatment of cancer and other incurable diseases in the budget reflects the sensitivity of the Modi government. Karn Chaudhary of the same party said that "this budget is not for the next election, but for the next generation." She mentioned the arrangements made for space research, defense, and agriculture in the budget, saying that the government is taking "farming from a means of livelihood to a means of increasing income".

Sadanand Mahalu Shet Tanavade of BJP praised the budget in his speech in the Konkani language. Kanad Parakyastha of the same party termed the budget as one that strengthens the country's position globally, achieves broad economic balance, and develops the country.

Manan Kumar Mishra of BJP supported the budget, saying that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is making its presence felt globally in every field. India has emerged as the voice of the Global South and has become capable of competing globally in every field.

Lahari Singh Siroya of BJP called the budget a well-thought-out one, made with a big vision, keeping in mind the country's needs, in which attention has been paid to social development and harmony along with economic growth. He said that the opposition Congress has not been able to digest the improvement in social harmony over the past 12 years.

He said that "Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has been an experienced organizer, but he is also getting caught up in this." He commented on Rahul Gandhi's act of wearing a T-shirt in Parliament and walking with his hands in his pants, without naming him. He alleged that the implementation of central schemes in Karnataka is being affected due to the tussle for the chief minister's post. This was objected to by Congress members.

Mithilesh Kumar of BJP termed the budget as historic and strong. He called it a budget that fulfills the aspirations of 140 crore people of the country and gives more pace to the country's development. Ramila Bechar Bhai Bara of the same party called the budget visionary.

Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale praised the budget in his unique style, saying that the Prime Minister has helped the poor, Dalits, tribals, and villagers in this budget. He said that the budget should not be discussed with a negative attitude, everyone should support it.

He said that an allocation of Rs 1.98 crore has been made for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. This budget will accelerate the country's development.

Derek O'Brien of the Trinamool Congress said that the central government owes West Bengal Rs 2 lakh crore, which should be paid soon. He raised the issue of unemployment in the country, saying that one out