CM praises Budget for empowering farmers, Opposition calls it poll gimmick

While Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini hailed the Union Budget 2025 as a major boost for farmers and entrepreneurs, the Opposition dismissed it as disappointing and election-driven.

Welcoming the Budget, CM Saini said, "It will not only provide a boost to the country's development but also play an important role in making Haryana self-reliant. It will empower youth, the poor, women and farmers. The Modi government at the Centre has identified these four groups as the pillars of a developed India. The loan limit on the Kisan Credit Card has been increased from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Additionally, 100 districts with low agricultural productivity will be prioritised under the Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana. As Haryana is an agriculture-based state, the state will greatly benefit from this Budget."

Will make state self-reliant

It will not only provide a boost to the country's development but also play an important role in making Haryana self-reliant. It will empower youth, the poor, women and farmers. Nayab Singh Saini, chief minister

Budget for privileged

A Budget that boosts industries while ignoring farmers and the common man is not a people’s Budget; it is a Budget for the privileged. – Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former cm

Energy Minister Anil Vij also praised the Budget, calling it excellent and growth-oriented. "The Budget is focused on holistic development and is expected to benefit every section of society. This time, there has been a substantial increase in GST and income tax collections. Additionally, a significant amount of funds are allocated to infrastructure, industrial growth and MSMEs. The investments in these sectors will generate employment and contribute to the country's progress," he said.

Highlighting the benefits for the farming community, Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana said, "The Budget includes a provision to increase the Kisan Credit Card loan limit from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, which will provide farmers across the country with easier access to loans, enabling them to enhance their crop production. This Budget will boost farmers' incomes, strengthen the agriculture sector and accelerate rural development. The Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana will directly benefit 1.7 crore farmers, taking the agriculture sector to new heights. The decision to restart three closed urea plants in eastern India will ensure an increased supply of urea, enabling timely access to fertilisers for farmers."

In contrast, the Opposition dismissed the Budget as inadequate and lacking key economic reforms.

Former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda criticised the Budget for failing to address inflation and unemployment. "Very few people would benefit from the government's income tax relief decision. The poor and middle class were waiting for relief from inflation and indirect taxes. However, the Budget remained silent on reducing inflation. Moreover, this Budget shows no roadmap for job creation and increasing investment. No announcement was made for farmers and there was no mention of MSP guarantee. There is neither a loan waiver for farmers nor any provision to increase income. Women and homemakers also appeared extremely disappointed with the Budget."

Sirsa MP and former Union Minister Kumari Selja called the Budget an election stunt rather than an economic roadmap. "The Budget appears to be an election-friendly document rather than a well-structured economic plan. It lacks bold reforms, fails to address critical issues like unemployment and inflation and does not provide real relief to the middle class and farmers. This is a Budget of promises without concrete implementation plans. States ruled by non-BJP governments have been neglected, the Budget is anti-people, and it has failed to deliver justice to various sectors. The allocation for social security programmes has allegedly been reduced and there is no meaningful relief for the middle class. Expectations were high for changes in tax slabs, but no adequate benefits have been provided to ease the financial burden on salaried employees and small business owners."

INLD national general secretary Abhay Singh Chautala accused the government of ignoring the most vulnerable sections of society. "The most-needy sections of society have been completely ignored. This Budget neither includes any measures to curb inflation for the common man, nor any plans to reduce unemployment for the youth, nor does it provide a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for farmers. Furthermore, Haryana has also been completely neglected in the Budget," he said. Chautala also criticised the reduction in farm subsidies.