Budget will benefit poor, farmers, women: Khanna

Lucknow: Terming tax relief to the middle class as a huge step forward in boosting the country's economy, UP's finance and parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Khanna on Saturday said the focus of the Budget is on poor, farmers, women, and youth.
Elaborating the benefits of the Budget for UP, Khanna said, "According to Budget estimates of 2025-2026, Uttar Pradesh is expected to get Rs 2,55,272.21 crore as state's share from central taxes.The central share from taxes to UP in 2024-2025 was 2,18,816.84 crore."
"According to revised estimates, UP will get Rs 2,30,854.62 crore as state's share from central taxes, which is over Rs 12,000 crore more than the previous budget estimate," Khanna said.
"The state has received Rs 1,92,696.91 crore as state's share from central taxes by Dec 31, 2024," he said.
Khanna said that a provision had been made to give states interest-free loans for 50 years.
He said that though the tax rebate to the middle class could appear to be a loss to the state exchequer, the fact was that money saved by people in the new tax regime through rebates would help in boosting economy.
"The money saved by the middle class would ultimately increase purchasing power of citizens which will lead to increased demand and supply and increase production. This will boost economic activity and help India in achieving 5 trillion-dollar economy goal," he said.
Khanna praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for increasing 10,000 seats in medical colleges and increasing the limit of kisan credit card from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Hailing the Budget, deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said that the central govt has addressed the concerns of all sections of society, besides paying attention to the needs of the health sector.
"The Budget lays the foundation for a developed India. We are progressing towards building a healthy India under PM Narendra Modi. The idea has been fortified by the Budget," he said, lauding the move to add 10,000 seats in medical colleges.
Excise minister Nitin Agrawal said that the Budget would have a major role in laying the foundation stone for ‘Shrestha Bharat' initiative.
Meanwhile, Sarojininagar MLA Rajeshwar Singh termed the Union Budget as a progressive step towards economic stability, social welfare, and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.