‘Written by AI, it’s nothing but a kite of rhetoric that fails women’

Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the state budget tabled by finance minister Choudhary, terming the financial document as a bundle of ‘hollow announcements' lacking seriousness and vision.Addressing mediapersons after the budget presentation in the Assembly, Baghel said the document reflected a continuation of what he described as "empty promises" rather than concrete policy measures.Using a striking metaphor that drew attention both inside and outside the House, Baghel compared the government's budgetary approach to flying a kite without preparation. "Pichhle Budget me maine patang udane ki ghoshna ki thi. Iss budget me main patang ke kanne baandhne ki ghoshna karta hun. Phir agle budget me manjha baandhne ka ailan karunga, aur uske agle budget me patang udane ki koshish karunga… aur phir janata jumlon ki yah patang kaat degi," he said. (It's as if the previous budget announced that it'll try to fly a kite and now the new budget is saying it'll try to fight a kite without any preparations." In a pointed jibe, Baghel said, "It seems this budget has been written by ChatGPT. Only Artificial Intelligence appears to have been used."State Congress spokesperson Vandana Rajput termed the third budget of the Sai govt ‘disappointing' and contrary to the expectations of the common people. The Congress spokesperson stated that the budget has failed women, who were expecting a special package for safety and employment. "The Rani Durgavati Yojana remains unclear, and there is no provision for women engaged in minor forest produce collection in Bastar," Rajput said. She further highlighted that the BJP had promised LPG cylinders at Rs 500 during the elections. However, the government failed to make even a Rs 1 budget provision for gas subsidies. She termed the financial plan a "populist document" that offers nothing to middle-class and poor families.