We are moments away from the Modi government presenting the Budget 2019. This year, because Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is away for health reasons, Minister Piyush Goyal has stepped in and is all set to deliver the Budget speech. Several people have speculated about what the Modi government might offer in this all-important Budget right before the 2019 elections, however, if history bears witness, the Congress’ reaction is going to be rather predictable.
Here are 5 things that Congress might say after the Budget 2019 speech has been delivered:
This is a populist budget by the Modi government
No matter what the Modi government announces or fails to announce, the Congress is probably going to call the Budget 2019 a “populist” budget. Forget the fact that the Congress has always thrown fiscal prudence to the wind with the fiscal deficit reaching its highest under the Congress government. Even in the Assembly elections recently, Congress promised blind hand-outs to pretty much every section of the society. But when it comes to the Modi government, a government which has maintained fiscal prudence through its 4 years, Congress is sure to deride the government for a ‘populist’ Budget.
Budget 2019 has everything for ‘Mr A’ and nothing for farmers and poor
The Modi government has been extremely cautious and in every budget, they have ensured that there are enough incentives for the poor and farmers. However, no matter what the Modi government announces, Congress is bound to say that the Budget has EVERYTHING for “Modi’s friends” like “Mr A” and nothing for farmers and the poor.
This is not an interim budget
Forget the fact that Congress has made some big announcements in the past interim budgets when they were in power, the Congress is bound to raise a stink alleging that the Modi government has breached convention and presented a “full budget” and not an “interim budget”.
Modi is losing
“The Modi government has presented this budget because it has not done anything in the past 4 years and Modi is losing”. I am sure we will hear this line with absolutely no proof as to why the Congress thinks so.
No farm loan waiver, Modi doesn’t care about farmers
Farmer loan waiver is Congress’ favourite pet rattle. Even though the Congress has failed spectacularly in delivering farm loan waiver in the three states where they are in power and Karnataka, where they are in alliance with JD(S), they keep raising this bogey to garner support. Modi government is unlikely to announce farmer loan waiver in its entirety as the Congress wants it too and is used to announcing. Congress, despite failing in their promises, is bound to raise the ‘farmer loan waiver’ bandwagon.
As we are moments away from the Budget, we will soon find out if our prediction holds true!
