New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, during the Lok Sabha debate on the budget, accused the Centre of discrimination against Opposition-ruled states.
Banerjee said the FM “seems to practice Robin Hood’s methods in reverse”, alleging that the budget takes from many and gives to a select few. “This budget does not heal the economy; it curates headlines. It is loud in slogans and soft on solutions,” he said.
Referring to comments made earlier by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Banerjee noted that Bengal did not find mention in the FM’s 85-minute budget speech. “Akhileshji was speaking before me. He said he wanted to see what Uttar Pradesh got in this budget. Bengal was not even mentioned once,” he said.
He said Dankuni freight corridor, mentioned in the budget, was originally announced in 2009 by the then railway minister Mamata Banerjee.
Banerjee accused the Centre of violating the spirit of federalism. “The Constitution promises equality among states. But this government practices preference. Allies are funded, while opponents are starved,” he said, calling it “subscription-based federalism” rather than cooperative federalism.
He also spoke about “cultural and linguistic targeting”, alleging that speaking Bengali or asserting regional identity were being used to brand people as outsiders.