Budget 2024: Finance minister presented Modi govt's last budget, Uddhav Thackeray takes dig at BJP

Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented the Narendra Modi government's "last" budget, said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday, taking a swipe at the BJP-led Centre after the Union Budget was presented, reported news agency PTI.

Addressing party workers in Raigad district, adjoining Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray stated that Sitharaman said that the budget would focus on four "castes", namely poor, women, youth and farmers.

Budget 2024: Government has finally realised that the country has these four sets of people, says Thackeray

Thackeray said the government has finally realised that the country has these four sets of people, reported PTI.

"The Modi government presented its last budget. Want to thank the finance minister because she did it with a very heavy heart and presented the last budget," Thackeray said, reported PTI.

Sitharaman on Thursday presented her sixth straight budget, ahead of the Parliamentary elections.

Sitharaman presented a pre-election budget, which technically is a vote on account and popularly termed an interim Budget to meet the central government's essential expenditure for the first four months of the new fiscal year that starts in April.

A new government elected after the April/May general elections will present the full Budget, likely in July.

Budget 2024: Budget guarantee of strengthening foundation of developed India, says PM Modi

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman offers the "guarantee" of strengthening the foundation of a developed Indi, reported PTI.

In a televised address following the budget, he said it will empower the four pillars of developed India, namely the young, poor, women and farmers.

"This is a budget of creating India's future," he said, adding that it is a reflection of the young aspirations of a young India, reported PTI.

Citing the announcement of Rs 1 lakh crore fund for research and innovation, he noted that the "historic" budget has also offered rebates for start-ups. It has provisions for a huge capital expenditure of Rs 11.11 lakh crore while keeping the fiscal deficit under control, he said, reported PTI.

The budget empowers the poor and middle class and will create countless employment opportunities for the youth, PM Modi said.

(With inputs from PTI)