CPM Protests Union Budget, Calls It Anti-People
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) District Secretary, A. Venkataswamy, has strongly criticized the Union Budget presented by the central government. He called it a budget that favors corporate and capitalist interests while placing more burden on the poor and middle class.
As part of a state-wide protest organized by the CPM State Committee, a demonstration was held on Monday at YSR Chowrasta in Gadwal. Venkataswamy attended the event as the chief guest and voiced his concerns about the budget.
Speaking at the protest, Venkataswamy described the budget as anti-people and anti-labor. He argued that it prioritizes the interests of big investors and corporate entities instead of addressing the needs of ordinary citizens. He questioned how the budget could support the common man when the government has set the minimum wage at just ₹8,300 per month.
The CPM leader demanded higher taxes on corporate profits and wealthy individuals to reduce income inequality. He accused the central government of failing to implement measures for decentralizing wealth and supporting the poor.
Venkataswamy also highlighted that 20% of the budget allocation is dedicated to interest payments, leaving limited funds for job creation and public welfare initiatives. He criticized the government for using “manipulative statistics” to mislead the public instead of taking meaningful action to address economic challenges.
He further alleged that the central government was favoring election-bound states like Delhi and Bihar by allocating more funds to them while ignoring opposition-ruled states. He called this practice a violation of federal principles.
The CPM leader pointed out significant cuts in essential sectors under the BJP regime. He noted that funding for employment guarantees, education, and healthcare has been continuously reduced over the last decade, negatively impacting the quality of life in both urban and rural areas.
On the agriculture front, Venkataswamy criticized the government for cutting ₹10,000 crore from last year’s budget allocation. He also accused the government of failing to ensure fair crop prices for farmers, leaving them in a vulnerable position.
Addressing commitments under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, he expressed concern over the central government’s failure to fulfill promises made to Telangana, even 11 years after the state was formed. He labeled this as a betrayal of the people of Telangana.
The CPM leaders demanded a revision of the budget to prioritize welfare measures for the poor and middle class while addressing Telangana’s pending commitments.
Several CPM district committee members, including VV Narasimha, Upper Narasimha, Balakrishna, Majjiga Anjaneyulu, Tirupatanna, Ramakrishna, Viresh, Ramanjaneyulu, Vishnu, and Bhaskar, participated in the protest to support these demands.
