Kharge takes 'pakora, jalebi' jibe, alleges discrimination with most states in Union Budget; Sitharaman hits back

Speaking briefly in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge, who is Leader of Opposition in the House, alleged such budget has never been presented and it has been done to save the BJP-led government, which is dependent on the support of JD-U and TDP for its survival

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday termed as "outrageous" allegation of opposition parties about discrimination between states in the Union Budget with Congress president taking "sabki thali khali, do ki thali mein pakora, jalebi" jibe at the BJP-led government over announcements of projects for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Speaking briefly in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge, who is Leader of Opposition in the House, alleged such budget has never been presented and it has been done to save the BJP-led government, which is dependent on the support of JD-U and TDP for its survival.

"The budget that was presented yesterday, no state got anything...sakbi thali khali aur do thali mein pakora and jalebi (all plates empty and in two plates, there is pakora and jalebi)," he said referring to budget announcements concerning Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. JD-U is in power in Bihar while TDP is in power in Andhra Pradesh. "Apart from these two, no state got anything, Neither Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh....no state got anything, Delhi did not get, Odisha did not get, how many states should I count," Kharge said.

"I have never seen such a budget and this has been done to please somebody, (kursi bachane ke liye sab hua hai) to save the chair. We condemn this, hold protest, all parties in INDIA alliance...," he added. With Sitharaman being Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, Kharge said they had hoped that the state will get "maximum but got nothing".

With Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asking Sitharaman to respond, Kharge said, "mataji is expert in speaking, I know it, I am keeping my views". The Chairman quipped that Sitharman was like Kharge's daughter in terms of age. "Aapke beti ke barabar hain..," he said.

Kharge pointed out that it is wrong not to make allocations for states ruled by parties which are not allied to BJP. "The places where opposition parties came to power, where people have rejected you, have been deprived. If it is not balanced, how will we develop? Today if someone is with you, they may be against you tomorrow. This goes on. Hence I condemn this," the senior Congress leader said.

Responding to Kharge's remarks, Sitharaman said that it was an "outrageous allegation" and a deliberate attempt by the opposition parties led by the Congress to give the people the wrong impression that their states were not allocated funds or schemes. "It is unfortunate that the opposition, particularly a senior leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, stood up to say what he heard of the budget yesterday. Now that the Leader of the Opposition raised issues on the budget, which was presented and tabled in the house yesterday. Just to the point he raised, I have not named many states and only spoken of two states. There are a few points I would like to make here as to what happens in a speech. The Congress party has been in power for a very long time in this country, and they have presented so many budgets that they would know clearly that in every budget, you don't get an opportunity to name every state of this country," she said.

The Finance Minister said that Rs 76,000 crore have been announced for a project in Mahrashtra. "I would challenge the Congress party for all the budget speeches they have delivered. Have they named every state of the country in each of their budget speeches? This is an outrageous allegation," she asserted.

As opposition members walked out while Sitharaman began responding to their allegaions, the Chairman said democracy will be seriously threatened if disruption and disturbance are weaponized as a political strategy. "Discussion on the Budget was listed today, and I gave the floor to the Leader of the Opposition in expectation that rules would be followed. I find it has been used as a ploy and a strategy. Members, I strongly plead with you. Democracy will be seriously threatened if disruption and disturbance are weaponized as a political strategy as has been done now," he said.

Sitharaman presented the Union Budget on Tuesday in Lok Sabha. (ANI)

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