Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP government on Monday, alleging that it has constructed a "Chakravyuha"— a complex trap — by centralizing financial power and leveraging institutions like the CBI, ED, and Income Tax, along with political executives and large business groups.
Rahul Gandhi asserted that the Union Budget for FY24-25 has bolstered this framework rather than offering relief to the middle class, which backed the BJP government throughout the last ten years.
In a fiery address, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the middle class has turned away from the BJP following the Budget's removal of the indexation benefit for capital gains tax on real estate transactions and the increase in capital gains tax on equities. He highlighted the pervasive issue of paper leaks in various admission exams and advocated for a caste census. Throughout his speech, Gandhi frequently clashed with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and members of the treasury benches.
Rahul Gandhi emphasized the underrepresentation of SCs, STs, and OBCs in higher bureaucracy. Displaying a photo of the Halwa ceremony—a traditional event marking the preparation of budget documents—he noted the absence of these communities in the finance ministry's representation. "In the country, there are 73% Dalit, Adivasi, and OBCs, and they are the main strength of India. The truth is they do not get enough space in business and government," Gandhi said.
He also criticized the Agniveer scheme for military recruitment, claiming it puts Indian soldiers in a precarious situation without providing pensions. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh countered by accusing Gandhi of spreading misinformation and offered to table all relevant information on the scheme.
Opposition parties have condemned the Agniveer scheme, which recruits personnel for four-year stints, retaining only 25% afterward. This discontent is believed to have contributed to the BJP's lackluster performance in recent Lok Sabha elections in certain states. Reports suggest the government is contemplating modifications to the scheme.
During the General Budget debate, Rahul Gandhi drew a parallel between the Mahabharata's "Chakravyuha" (also called PadmaVyuha, with 'Padma' being the BJP's symbol) and the current political scenario, implicating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in forming this trap. He described the framework as consisting of financial power concentration, agency control, and political monopoly, which he argued, the budget has fortified.
Rahul Gandhi accused the government of attacking MSMEs—the backbone of employment—through policies like demonetization, GST, and tax terrorism. He dismissed the budget's internship program, alleging it would benefit only 1% of the youth due to the destruction of the MSME sector.
He criticized the budget's 2.5% allocation to education, labeling it the lowest in 20 years, and cited 70 major paper leaks in the past decade as a significant issue unaddressed by the finance minister.
Rahul Gandhi also noted the INDIA bloc's expectation for a legal guarantee of support prices for crops in the budget. "If the government made a provision of MSP, the farmers could have come out of the Chakravyuha. I want to assure that INDIA group will give legal guarantee for MSPs," he promised.
Rahul Gandhi asserted that the budget has alienated the middle class by removing indexation benefits and increasing capital gains tax. "Middle class is going to leave you. Wherever you get a chance, you create Chakravyuhas. And we break it," he declared, citing previous Congress initiatives like MGNREGA and loan waivers.
He concluded by targeting two major business conglomerates for monopolizing India's infrastructure. "You create Chakravyuha, but you don't understand Hindu religion," Rahul Gandhi said, claiming further that the INDIA alliance has "demolished" the ruling party leadership's confidence.
(With inputs from IANS)
