The Congress has targeted finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s first budget and called it “utterly lacklustre, nondescript, uninspiring & directionless.”

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hit out at Nirmala Sitharaman’s claim that this was a budget for ‘New India’ and listed out areas, where the party thinks, the budget couldn’t deliver. “Zero on Economic Revival, Zero on Rural Growth, Zero on Job Creation, Zero on Urban Rejuvenation.Can a mundane jugglery of ‘acronyms’ pass off for vision for a ‘New India’?” he tweeted.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier today suggested that the Budget was likely to only help the rich and not the poor. When asked by reporters whether the Budget being presented will be pro-farmers, Rahul Gandhi said with a smile, “That is a good question, it means you have the understanding.”

Senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram also offered a detailed critique of the budget.

Congress party had put out several tweets this morning suggesting measures for Nirmala Sitharaman to include in her maiden budget.

(For full budget coverage log on to livemint.com)

First Published: Jul 05, 2019 14:57 IST