CM SHINDE CONGRATULATES PM, SITHARAMAN ON BUDGET 2023-24

Urges Maharashtra

Opposition parties to welcome provisions made for farmers and the underprivileged

First India Bureau Mumbai: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde welcomed the Union Budget 2023-24 presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday, congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sitharaman on it. Speaking to the media here, Shinde said, “The overall development of the country and the state will be boosted by this Budget. I heartily congratulate PM Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for this.”

BUDGET CONSIDERS WOMEN, YOUTH, TRIBAL COMMUNITIES,

FARMERS: DY CM Mumbai (PTI): Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the Union Budget has taken the interests of all sections of society, including farmers, tribal communities, women, youth and the middle class into consideration. Talking to reporters here, Fadnavis, who is also the state Finance Minister, termed the budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as “Sarva Jan Hitai” (benefitting everyone), adding it caters to all segments and sectors. The budget will help the middle and lower middle class to fulfil their aspirations, he said. Terming the allocation of Rs10 lakh crore in infrastructure as unprecedented, he said it will help boost infrastructure growth.

Calling it a comprehensive Budget, CM Shinde said it “gives justice to all sections of the society such as farmers, workers, women and youth” and added that it has provisions for the underprivileged, the middle class, and boosts industries and infra - structure. After opposition parties criticized the Budget on several fronts, Shinde came to its defence: “This is the annual Budget and the opposition parties should welcome it. A huge amount of the total budget has been allocated to the Rail - ways. Since 2013, the budget for railways has increased by nine times till date.” Farmers have been considered as the focal point and several provisions have been made for them. There is no factor that will be deprived in this Budget, he added.

On Wednesday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made as many as five personal income tax-related announcements, in what was her fifth consecutive budget speech. No announcement on income tax was made in last year’s budget. This was the last full budget of the Narendra Modi government before next year’s parliamentary elections, slated for April-May 2024