Budget prepared at behest of corporate , says AIKS
The CPI-backed All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has dubbed the Union Budget 2023-24 as pro-rich, “prepared at the behest of the corporate cronies”. “It is against the interests of the farmers, the poor and toiling masses”, say AIKS president Ashok Dhawale and general secretary Vijoo Krishnan
The CPI-backed All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has dubbed the Union Budget 2023-24 as pro-rich, “prepared at the behest of the corporate cronies”.
“It is against the interests of the farmers, the poor and toiling masses”, say AIKS president Ashok Dhawale and general secretary Vijoo Krishnan.
In a press statement, they said that the Budget was high on rhetoric and hollow on actual allocation for agriculture and rural development.
“The BJP Government has refused to implement the Minimum Support Prices as per the M S Swaminathan Commission recommendations of C2+50 % nor ensured legal guarantee for MSP leading to increasing distress for farmers. This Budget does nothing to mitigate the situation. The BJP Government is exacting revenge from farmers for the humiliating defeat suffered by it at the hands of the historic united farmers’ movement which forced it to withdraw the three pro-corporate farm Acts. There has been a drastic cut on expenditure for rural employment, MGNREGA, food Security, fertiliser subsidy etc.,” they said.
Coming at a time when uncertainties loom large due to the recession, the threats of climate change and other exigencies, this Budget fails to generate confidence in the farmers. There is nothing in it to enhance incomes of the peasantry and toiling masses, they said, citing the Budget Estimate for agriculture which has been substantially reduced from Rs 1,24,000 crores in 2022-23 to Rs 1,15,531.79 crores this year. “Actually, there has been a comprehensive reduction in budgetary allocations for agriculture in this budget,” they rued.
“The AIKS calls upon all its units to rise in protest against this anti-farmer, anti-worker, pro-corporate Budget by uniting with all peasants and workers to expose the betrayal by the Narendra Modi led BJP Government,” they added.
