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Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fully behind the idea to cut taxes but it took time to convince the bureaucrats, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman. (Photo: PTI)
Paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday described the Union Budget as “by the people, for the people, of the people”, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fully behind the idea to cut taxes but it took time to convince the bureaucrats.
“We have heard the voice of middle class” who had been complaining about their aspirations not being met despite being honest taxpayers, Sitharaman said in an interview with news agency PTI.
She also said that during the election year 2024, the capital expenditure was a bit slow.
On Bihar and Delhi, Sitharaman said, “For want of criticism, they (Opposition) are picking this up. These are lame and lazy quick way to look at budget. Everyone gets its due grant. I want them to go through the details and then come back.”
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Budget 2025 announced big rebates for taxpayers in the middle-income group by making annual income up to Rs 12 lakh tax-free and allowing tax benefits for others by revamping slabs.