Northeast Desk, 24th July: The opposition Congress in Manipur has criticized the BJP-led central government for allegedly ignoring the state’s plight in the Union Budget. Manipur, which recently suffered a major flood and ethnic violence, was not adequately addressed, according to State Congress president K Meghachandra.
“There was a partiality in the budget. The entire Northeast was not taken care of. Manipur was once again neglected. While flood-hit Assam was mentioned, Manipur, which witnessed a catastrophic hailstorm and two of the worst floods in more than 20 years, was not,” Meghachandra stated. He further expressed disappointment over the lack of aid for more than 60,000 displaced people.
In contrast, Chief Minister N Biren Singh praised the Union Budget, commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi for presenting a budget that aims to solidify India’s position among the top three largest economies in the world. “With a strong focus on employment, skilling, MSMEs, and the middle class, the Union Budget 2024-2025 will propel India’s growth momentum to even greater heights,” Singh said in a post on X.
Singh also highlighted the establishment of more than 100 branches of India Post Payment Bank in the Northeast as a significant initiative for economic empowerment and self-reliance in the region. “These accessible, affordable, and reliable banks will allow any person in a village to easily avail of banking facilities. I thank Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi ji for this initiative to transform the North East through self-reliance & economic empowerment,” he added.
The state BJP echoed Singh’s sentiments, describing the Budget as dedicated to the holistic and inclusive development of all citizens. State BJP spokesperson M Asnikumar emphasized the commitment to social justice and the proposed allocation of Rs 2 lakh crore for job creation over five years. “To achieve comprehensive social justice, we will employ a saturation approach to ensure all eligible individuals are covered by various programs, including those for education and health,” Asnikumar said.
He concluded by stating that the budget aims to ensure substantial progress for all Indians, irrespective of their religion, caste, gender, and age, in realizing their life goals and aspirations.