Union Budget Is A Total Waste: Vijaya Sai Reddy

A week after the Union Budget announcement was made, the YCP has criticised it and added that in Andhra Pradesh’s perspective, it is a total waste. Well, YCP has been very watchful of its comments against the Union Budget because it wants to maintain cordial relationship with the BJP and other reasons that everyone has knowledge of.

But on Wednesday YCP’s mouthpiece Vijayasai Reddy spoke in Rajya Sabha and said this budget disappointed his party to the core. “If the budget allocations are rationalised, AP government is spending 5.9 percent of its budget on agriculture whereas the government of India’s share is 3.9 percent and on education, AP’s budget allocations were 11.8 percent and Centre’s contribution is merely 2.6 percent. Agriculture, education and health sectors are crucial for the country’s growth but the allocations were poor in the union budget,” said Vijayasai Reddy.

Raking up the tax slabs rates, Vijayasai Reddy pointed out the inflation. “The cumulative inflation is 48 percent from 2014 to 2022 while the tax exemption slabs remained unchanged and this is a pathetic situation. Inflation and tax exemption rates should be linked. Also there are five TDS documents, one has to collect in order to file tax returns and it’s a tedious process. Instead of five, it should be brought under one roof,” said Vijayasai Reddy.

On subsidies, Vijayasai Reddy mentioned food and fertilizers. “Centre claims that nobody remained hungry during the pandemic but in the current budget food subsidy is down by 28 percent. Reducing subsidy on fertilizers is definitely anti-farmers and increase in fertilizers products has severely affected the farmers,” added Vijaysai Reddy.

Regarding AP’s share in Union Budget, Vijaysai Reddy mentioned about south-coastal railway zone, Vizag – Chennai industrial corridor, Polavaram project, Kadapa steel plant, Dugarajapatnam Port, Kakinada, petro-chemical complex which are yet to be addressed by the union government.

Overall, the YCP has really voiced its views on the union budget and exposed how the BJP government in New Delhi is displaying step-motherly treatment towards Andhra.