Congress Leaders Slam Union Budget as Disappointing and Visionless

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Mangaluru : Former Minister B. Ramanath Rai and District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao have strongly criticized the Union Budget, labeling it as a major disappointment for Karnataka, especially for the coastal region. Ramanath Rai pointed out that despite Karnataka being the second-highest tax-contributing state in the country, it has been consistently neglected in terms of fund allocation. He expressed frustration that the budget offers nothing significant for Coastal Karnataka, calling it a “visionless” financial plan that fails to meet the expectations of the people.

Echoing similar sentiments, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao highlighted the budget’s lack of focus on the healthcare sector. While the central government announced plans for five regional medical hubs and three Ayurveda universities to boost medical tourism, the Minister noted that the locations remain unspecified. He demanded that the Center must allocate at least one medical hub and one Ayurveda university to Karnataka. He further criticized the government’s perceived bias, stating that development should not be restricted to Gujarat but should encompass all states equally.

The District In-charge Minister also expressed disappointment over specific regional demands that went unaddressed. He noted that despite repeated requests to start three Vande Bharat trains between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, not even a single train was announced in the budget. Additionally, he raised concerns for the farming community, stating that the long-standing demand to categorize rubber as an agricultural product was ignored. Overall, the leaders claimed the budget fails to address the essential infrastructure and developmental needs of Karnataka.