The presentation of the first budget of the Narendra Modi Government’s 3rd term on Tuesday in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman drew flak as there was no mention of any packages for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Manipur.
Lok Sabha MP, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam reacted on X, pointing out the absence of Manipur in Nirmala Sitharaman’s presentation of the Union Budget.
“Absence thy name is Manipur, that's the budget speak! Nothing on flood and rehabilitation package for IDPs in the state!” his post on X read.
This was his first comment on the Union Budget.
In the Budget for 2024-25, under 'Irrigation and Flood Mitigation' the finance minister mentioned about the floods that occured in Bihar, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim and announced the Centre's assurance to provide assistance. However, no mention was made of the flood that had affected the strife-torn Manipur.
The presentation marks Nirmala Sitharaman’s seventh consecutive budget. This is the first major economic document of the Modi 3.0 government.
Bimol Akoijam had recently grabbed headlines for his maiden speech to the Parliament on the Manipur crisis.
