Congress youth wing raises voice against ‘kursi bachao budget’

New Delhi, July 26

Members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), the youth wing of the Congress party, staged a protest on Friday at the office headquarters near the Shastri Bhawan in central Delhi, criticising the Modi-led government’s budget as a ‘kursi bachao budget’ (save the chair budget).

90% states isolated

The budget has isolated 90 per cent of the states. The country’s budget cannot be allocated for saving the power of the BJP; it should be for the welfare of the people. But it has become merely a ‘satta bachao budget’ (save the government). — Srinivas BV, president, IYC

Protesters raised slogans against the government. One member, sitting on a chair, donned the face mask of PM Modi, while others carried him on their shoulders, symbolising their claim that the budget was designed to secure the ruling party’s power rather than benefit the public.

IYC president Srinivas BV led the demonstration. Addressed the crowd, he said, “This budget is against the federal structure of India. Many states have been discriminated against in the budget. This is a betrayal to the public.”

Taking a shot at PM Modi, Srinivas said, “The budget has isolated 90 per cent of the states. The country’s budget cannot be allocated for saving the power of the BJP; it should be for the welfare of the people. But it has become merely a ‘satta bachao budget’ (save the government).”

Srinivas specifically mentioned the states of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, claiming, “The entire budget was designed to give importance to two states and two particular political parties, as the government has to save its chair. There is no respite to the middle class, farmers, and unemployed — but a lot for the industrialists who donate funds to the BJP.”

He further alleged that the government is retaliating against those who supported the INDIA alliance in the Lok Sabha elections. “The Modi-led government is angry with farmers, labourers, poor, and Dalits because all of them supported the INDIA alliance in the Lok Sabha elections. Therefore, all of them have been ignored in the budget,” he asserted.