Bengal finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya has severely criticized the Union finance minister and called the Union budget a “mockery” and “farce.”

Mrs Bhattacharya wrote on her X handle: “Data reveals on an average 30 farmers commit suicide everyday in India. FM@nsitharaman, your farce claims in # Budget 2024 for Annadata Welfare is a mockery to 53,478 farmer suicides in last 5 years.

PM@narendramodi, STOP the charade & prioritise lives over politics.”

Criticising the interim budget Jawhar Sircar, Trinamul Congress MP, said, “See how hollow in Modi’s propaganda, repeated by Godi Media and Bhakts. That real GDP has broken all records during Modi’s rule! Watch the black line for real GDP growth- from Vajpayee through Manmohan to Modi. What’s happening is because of sustained efforts of 2 decades.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Interim Budget announcements aimed at a Viksit Bharat. Although there are no tax tweaking as expected but the Budget is a ‘statement of strong intent”, said an ICC statement released today.

Sanjay Budhia, chairman CII National Committee on Exports and Imports, said, “The budget is a positive pointer unveiling the growth agenda and unleashing the growth potential of our country and its citizens.”

The Interim Budget is very inspiring and inclusive. Inclusion of the ASHA workers in Ayushman Bharat is a futuristic move, felt Sudipta Narayan Roy, MD, Powell Group.

Chandra Shekhar Ghosh, MD and CEO, Bandhan Bank, said, “The budget focuses extensively on inclusive development and is a step forward in the $5 trillion economy aspirations of the nation. The focus on women empowerment will further boost the economy. The emphasis on infrastructure and rural development will lay a strong foundation for India’s growth story.”

Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE, said, “The focus on capacity building through higher spending on hard as well as soft infrastructure and consequently facilitating job creation has continued.

Kuldip Maity, MD & CEO, VFS Capital, said, “The minister highlighted the substantial growth in women entrepreneurship over the past decade, allocating 30 crore MUDRA Yojana loans to empower women entrepreneurs.”