Budget 2023-24 is mathematical calculation showing failure of Modi Govt: MLC Kavitha

HYDERABAD: Nizamabad MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha slammed the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government after the Union Budget session on February 1. She criticised the Central Government for not dividing the budget uniformly among the States and said that Telangana and a few other States, that were either not BJP-ruled States or were not poll bound, found no mention in the budget.

Questioning a popular campaign of the Narendra Modi-led Union Government she said if they wanted “Sabka Saath” then why did they not believe in “Sabka Vikas?". She said the budget lacked direction and the money was only being given to select States.

She also said that the Centre owed Telangana and other State Governments hundreds of crores worth pending dues that have no mention in the budget. "Nirmala Sitharaman Garu, please release our pending dues," the MLC said.

The ongoing cold war between the Centre and States like Telangana was affecting the overall infrastructural development of the country. K Kavitha said, "No medical and nursing college was given to Telangana yet again."

The BRS leader also said that she was happy that Karnataka’s Upper Bhadra project received ₹5,300 crores from the Union, but asked why Telangana’s Mission Bhagiratha, despite recommendations from Niti Aayog, was not considered for any investment.

Kavitha also said that no concrete steps had been taken to protect and empower MSMEs. “I strongly believe MSMEs are the backbone of the nation that produce the highest employment generation yet they have been neglected for years and years, and nothing has been done for them. They promised Rs 20 lakh crores previously but not even Rs 1 lakh crore was released.”

Kavitha said that the BRS Government had been persistent seeking the Centre’s nod to work on SEZs, airports and several zones but the Centre was turning blind eye to it.

Responding to the Union Government’s investment towards infrastructure, Kavitha said that “The BRS Government invested Ra 80,000 crores in Kaleshwaram project. However, the Union Government did not even contribute for one percent of it. So what investment in infrastructure is the Government talking about?". She said that the Union Government and the Budget could not be trusted and relied on.