Rahul Gandhi had earlier denounced the Union Budget, labeling it a "Kursi Bachao" budget, suggesting it was designed to appease allies with hollow promises at the expense of other states. He further accused the government of favoring certain corporate entities, referring to them as "AA," and claimed the budget was a "copy and paste" of the Congress manifesto and previous budgets.
In response, Sarma contended that Gandhi's criticisms lacked substance and demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of economic principles. He highlighted that the budget includes measures aimed at stimulating economic growth, such as increased capital expenditure and initiatives to boost employment. Sarma also pointed out that the budget offers significant benefits to the middle class, including tax reliefs and incentives for small businesses.