FM Sithraman responds to oppositions reaction amid BJP’s budget campaign

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday during the post budget press conference binned Oppositions criticism of the Union Budget 2023 with a ‘whaaaat?’. Nirmala Sitharaman made the Union Budget 2023 announcement at the parliament on Wednesday as it was dully expected opposition parties and leaders criticized the budget after it was presented. According to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the budget was a “big announcement with no delivery.”

However while holding a post budget press conference UFM Nirmala Sitharaman asked, “Whaaat?” when a reporter mentioned that opposition parties had stated that the union budget for 2023 was inadequate. “Opposition parties have been calling this ‘nil battey sannata’ (good for nothing) budget… they said [it is] not good enough,” Nirmala Sitharaman was asked by the reporter.

In response, the finance minister demanded specifics from the reporter, specifically regarding the opposition’s criticism. If I may inquire, for what reasons the opposition parties are stating this? After that, the amused finance minister quickly left the question.

Earlier according to a party source it was said that BJP will hold countrywide discussion on the latest budget, from February 1 to February 12, and run a nationwide campaign to spread awareness measures that has been announced in the Union budget 2023-24.

Meanwhile on Wednesday BJP’s National President JP Nadda has constituted a nine-member committee for the same. Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi has been made the committee’s convenor for the same.

It was also said that on February 4 and 5, ministers of the Government of India, national officials and economic experts will hold conferences on the budget at 50 important centers including the capitals of various states of the country.

BJP-ruled state CMs, State Presidents, Ministers, MPs and MLAs will hold conferences and public meetings across the country for the next two weeks and discuss the Budget and its benefits with the common people.

Conferences will be organized in all the districts and the main issues of the budget will be conveyed to the public up to the block level. At the central level, many economic experts including Sunil Bansal, National General Secretary, Yuva and Kishan morcha national president have been made members of this committee, said the party sources.