Congress MP Kumari Selja began the budget discussion in the Lok Sabha from the opposition side. Commencing the budget discussion after Zero Hour, Kumari Selja reminded the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi talking about cooperative federalism during the UPA government's tenure and referred to a statement by Sushma Swaraj to corner the government. At one point, Speaker Om Birla interrupted her and said that this is Parliament, not the Haryana Assembly.
Kumari Selja mentioned that when the UPA government was in power, Narendra Modi used to attend NDMC meetings and spoke about cooperative federalism. Now, even NDMC is no more. Maybe these two words do not exist in the government's and BJP's dictionary anymore. She mentioned that Bihar and Andhra Pradesh received substantial allocations in the budget. Nitishji and Naidujji will be happy, but times change quickly. Kumari Selja stated that the slide in seat numbers is a result of losing the government's trust.
She pointed out that when it comes to Himachal Pradesh, help through external agencies is mentioned in the budget. Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Jharkhand are heading towards elections. It seems they have accepted defeat in these three states. The Congress MP criticized the government, saying that despite having three ministers from Haryana, they did not even consider mentioning the state's name. She attacked the government by questioning the promise of doubling farmers' income. Did you adopt Swaminathan Committee's C2 plus 50 formula? No. There is no reason for self-praise.
The Congress MP mentioned that farmers have been protesting for over a year, but no attention was given. Such borders have been created as if they are enemies. She said the world knows they are friends of capitalists. We waived farmers' loans, but you waived 16 lakh crore rupees of your capitalist friends' loans. She stated that you have broken all promises, yet the farmer sits with his sorrow. Kumari Selja urged not to force the farmer to become aggressive. You have turned the farmer into both a worker and a laborer.
Talking about crop insurance, she mentioned that when it comes to compensation, the farmer roams door to door. The farmer sat on protest, 736 farmers lost their lives, but not a word was spoken about them. Kumari Selja said that even today, farmers are sitting at the Shambhu border but you are not looking towards this helpless farmer. You talk about providing MSP but the issue is about legal guarantee. She said justice will not be done to farmers until you provide a legal guarantee. We mentioned legal guarantee in our manifesto, it would have been better if you had read this point too.
Congress MP Kumari Selja stated that wage increase has been only one percent per year. You used to reject MNREGA, but later adopted it after realizing its importance during COVID. You don't even remember this. Farming and labor are deeply connected, you have neglected this fact. She said by introducing capitalists into rural areas, you have disrupted it.
She stated that a minimum daily wage of 400 rupees is the demand across the country. Kumari Selja said that if our government comes, we will implement this. The government should accept this fact. She said do not make the poor stand in line for 5 kilos of grain, give them their right. You talk about providing grain to 80 crore people, will 80 crore people stand in line?
Kumari Selja recalls Sushma Swaraj's statement
Kumari Selja remembered late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, mentioning that Sushmaji once said during a budget discussion that 'data does not fill the stomach'. At that time, Pranab Mukherjee was the finance minister. She said this to remind the ruling party that statistics alone do not satisfy. The profits of oil companies are increasing but are the people getting any relief? Kumari Selja asked if surviving on just grains will suffice? The prices of potatoes, onions, and vegetables are rising.
In response, someone said the finance minister does not eat onions. Selja replied that everyone has their own taste. Citing government schools, she mentioned that schools are closing in our state. Our leader Rahul Gandhi talked about NEET, why does no one take responsibility? If they don't, the youth will show them. She cornered the government on unemployment and questioned the effectiveness of skilling initiatives, asking if they have discussed with the industry. What guarantee is there that youths won't be laid off within two or three months after skilling? Mentioning backlog recruitments, she also raised the Skill India issue, asking what happened with it.
Suspend Agniveer immediately - Selja
The Congress MP said that rising unemployment leads to increased bad habits. Where was our Haryana? We used to say - 'The best state in the country is Haryana, the land of milk and curd'. Today, crimes have increased. Selja mentioned that despite the government's claims about Agniveer, the reality can be seen on the ground. You are being unjust to both the army and the youth. Haryana’s representation is 2 percent in the nation, but in the army, it is 10 percent. End Agniveer immediately and once again uplift the slogan 'Jai Jawan Jai Kisan'.
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Raising the issue of scholarships, Kumari Selja said students in Haryana have not received scholarships for four years. How will such children study? Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar also studied with the help of a scholarship. Speaker Om Birla interrupted her on this point. He said this is Parliament, not the Haryana Assembly. Selja replied that you also love Rajasthan. Even though you are the speaker.
Cleanliness campaign's emblem is not even visible now
Kumari Selja pointed out the difference between the budget and expenditure. She mentioned Prime Minister Modi's inauguration of Ayush University in Haryana and said that not even a stone has been laid there. According to the Global Hunger Index, we have ranked 111 out of 125 countries in malnutrition cases. If you had listened to our promise of giving one lakh rupees to women, it would have benefited them. You lack ideas, we have them. If you had adopted them, it would have been beneficial for the country.
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Mentioning Millennium City Gurgaon and Faridabad, she said the former Chief Minister is present here, hoping he will listen to her. I know you are disappointed with Haryana but you had 10 years, do something for welfare. Cleanliness campaign, even the emblem is not visible now. Perhaps it has also been thrown into the trash.
