Rajya Sabha takes up General Discussion on Union Budget 2021-22

Rajya Sabha today took up the General Discussion on Union Budget 2021-22. BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi delivering his maiden speech in the Upper House said the Budget lays the roadmap to build a strong and self-reliant India. He hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision of a timely lockdown which he said prevented the loss of lives due to the corona pandemic. Mr. Modi said that it was commendable that despite a 23 percent drop in revenue collection due to COVID-19, no new tax was imposed in the budget. 

Comparing India with the US, he said, even when developed countries like the United States were facing challenges to extend direct financial assistance to their people, India undertook one of the largest direct fund transfer schemes benefitting large sections of people. He said the budget is dedicated to the welfare of



the poor and will boost reforms in the country.

 

Earlier, initiating the discussion, Kapil Sibal of Congress said that the Budget fails to talk about the issue of unemployment. He charged the government for indulging in excessive privatization. S.R. Balasubramoniyam of the AIADMK asked the government to reconsider the decision of levying Agri cess on fuel. 

Amar Patnaik of the BJD said the budget is a bold initiative to bridge the fiscal deficit target. Anthiyur P Selvarasi of the DMK lamented that the work for AIIMS, Madurai has not started yet. He alleged that the Budget favors' big industrialists.' K R Suresh Reddy of the TRS said that the budget presentation was good but it needs to be seen how it will be implemented.

 

The discussion on the budget will continue tomorrow.