Budget remains hot topic on Twitter

HYDERABAD: The Union Budget-2023 was the hot topic on Twitter on Wednesday, with trending tags, opinions and comments all revolving around the country’s finances, especially taxes and cuts.

Hashtags of #AmritKaal, #Budget2023, #Financeminister, #Unionbudget, #Unionbudget2023, #middleclass, #AmritKaalBudget, #Railways, #PANCard, #Modinomics, #ModihaiToMumkinHai dominated the social media space.

Discussions centred on topics like ‘No Tax’, ‘3.3% GDP’, ‘income tax’, ‘7 lakhs’, ‘New Tax Regime’, ‘Rs.7’ as the Budget announcements started trickling in.

The topic ‘No Tax’ had more than 22,000 tweets, ‘rs.7’ more than 24,000 tweets, while ‘finance minister’ and ‘middle class’ topped the tweet charts with more than 45,000 and 55,000 tweets, respectively.

Besides the revised tax slabs, the announcement to turn the ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research into a centre of excellence was also a popular topic.

Dr Sangita Reddy, joint managing director of Apollo Hospitals Group and ex-president of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry tweeted: “This 1st #AmritKalBudget is a futuristic & dynamic budget for the #healthcare sector The focus on research, investments & public-private collaborations is vital for transforming #India into a global healthcare hub! #UnionBudget2023 @PMOIndia @nsitharaman @MoHFW_INDIA @ficci_india”

However, political reactions were mixed, with opposition leaders criticising the Budget, while BJP leaders rushed to defend it.

Union minister G. Kishan Reddy posted: “A big thank you to Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodiand FM Smt @nsitharaman for the #AmritKaalBudget that prioritizes growth, development & inclusiveness. New tax reforms, focus on infrastructure, tourism, agriculture & measures for the youth, women empowerment and farmers besides personal Income Tax relief for salaried class are reflective of a growth-driven budget and India’s aspirational future”.

BJP state president Bandi Sanjay tweeted: “The First budget in #AmritKaal focused with 7 priority areas of inclusive development, reaching last mile, infrastructure & investment, unleashing potential, green growth, youth power & financial sector - has drawn a blue print for India@100”.

BRS leader T. Harish Rao tweeted: “The budget introduced by the central government is an anti-farmer and anti-poor budget. Apart from the beautiful words. there is nothing in the allocation of funds. There are 7 priority areas. The original fields were left to the wind. This is the budget which has once again done a great injustice to the state of Telangana.”

State Congress president Revanth Reddy retweeted Rahul Gandhi’s tweet on the Budget: “‘Mitr Kaal’ Budget has: NO vision to create Jobs NO plan to tackle Mehngai NO intent to stem Inequality 1% richest own 40% wealth, 50% poorest pay 64% of GST, 42% youth are unemployed- yet, PM doesn’t Care! This Budget proves Govt has NO roadmap to build India’s future”.

Congress leader Uttam Kumar, also criticising the Budget, tweeted: “Coming out of Parliament after FM Smt.Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech. Union Budget has disappointed the people of Telangana. BJP has once again ignored assurances given to people of Telangana - Railway coach factory in Kazipet, Bayyaram Steel factory, Tribal University etc.”

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi also voiced his opposition, saying: “The Modi government slashed the budget of the Ministry of Minority Affairs by 40%. Perhaps according to Modi poor minority children do not need the "efforts" of the government, slogans like "Sabka Vikas..." are enough. #Budget2023”.