Hyderabad, Feb 1 (Reporter) Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has praised the Union Budget 2025-26, calling it a historic and transformative financial plan that prioritises the welfare of the poor, middle-class, farmers, and small traders. In a statement here on Saturday, he described the budget as “wonderful” and commended Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting a pro-people financial plan under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Highlighting the tax exemption for incomes up to ₹12 lakh, he termed it a first-of-its-kind reform in independent India, providing significant relief to middle-class employees and traders. Bandi Sanjay Kumar stated that the budget is a crucial step towards making India the third-largest economy after the U.S. and China by 2027. He emphasised that the BJP government remains committed to the welfare of the poor and middle class. Notably, he pointed out that employees earning less than Rs 1 lakh per month across the country, including Telangana, will now be exempt from tax, resulting in an estimated annual savings of Rs 80,000 per individual. Additionally, he highlighted that the budget brings relief to consumers by reducing the prices of essential goods such as televisions, mobile phones, leather products, and electric vehicles, thereby making them more affordable for the middle class. The Minister also praised the healthcare reforms included in the budget, particularly the reduction in customs duty on medicines for chronic diseases, including cancer, which is expected to make treatments significantly more affordable. Speaking on the agricultural sector, he welcomed the expansion of the Kisan Credit Card scheme, which aims to provide loans to 7.7 crore farmers nationwide. He noted that around 50 lakh farmers in Telangana are expected to benefit from loans of up to Rs 5 lakh through banks. The introduction of a National Cotton Commission and a special commission for pulses, he added, will ensure better pricing and increased support for farmers cultivating these crops. Addressing the need to boost employment and entrepreneurship, he lauded the budget’s initiatives to increase the loan limits for MSMEs from Rs 5 crore to RS 10 crore, while also enabling startups to access loans of up to Rs 20 crore. These measures, he said, will create more opportunities for young entrepreneurs and drive economic growth. He also expressed appreciation for the focus on urban and rural development, stating that the budget includes special allocations to curb rural-to-urban migration and enhance infrastructure in cities. Furthermore, he noted that the government has taken a significant step in reforming the power sector, ensuring affordable electricity for the people. Bandi Sanjay Kumar urged farmers in Telangana to take full advantage of the Kisan Credit Card scheme, which he said would help eliminate reliance on private moneylenders. He also called upon the Telangana government to cooperate with the Modi-led central government in implementing urban development initiatives for the benefit of the state. He described the budget as a historic milestone that will reshape India’s economic trajectory. "A country is not just land—it is its people. This budget, designed for the welfare of 90 per cent of the population, will be remembered as a defining moment in India’s history,” he declared...////...