Youth Congress Stages Protest Against 'Kursi Bachao' Budget

The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) protested against the Union Budget 2024-25, calling it a 'kursi bachao budget.' The protest, led by IYC president Srinivas BV, alleged the budget ignored many states and did not address inflation. Rahul Gandhi also criticized the budget, calling it an assault on India's federal structure.

Members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) -- the youth wing of the Congress party -- on Friday staged a protest here over the budget terming it as a 'kursi bachao budget'. The protest took place at the IYC headquarters near Shastri Bhawan in central Delhi, with protesters raising slogans against the government. One of the protesters wore a face mask of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sat on a chair, while the others carried him on their shoulders.

IYC president Srinivas BV alleged that the Union Budget 2024-25, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Parliament on Tuesday, is against the federal structure of India. Many states have been ignored in this budget, he said. ''This is Modi ji's 'kursi bacaho', 'satta bachao' and 'badla lo' budget as it isolates 90 per cent of the states and more than 90 per cent of the country's population,'' Srinivas said. The entire country is struggling with inflation but this budget does not talk about taking any steps against it, he added.

On Thursday, the opposition continued its attack on the government in the Parliament on the second day of budget discussion over budgetary allocations, claiming it read like a gratitude letter to NDA allies, but the BJP asserted that it will spur employment and help India in its march for all-round development.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday had criticised the budget, saying it is an ''assault on the sanctity of India's federal structure'' as INDIA bloc MPs staged a protest in Parliament premises over the alleged discrimination against opposition-ruled states in the budget. Sharing a picture of the protest on his WhatsApp channel, Gandhi had said, ''Today, along with INDIA janbandhan MPs, protested against NDA's 'Kursi Bachao Budget' in Parliament House premises.''

(With inputs from agencies.)