Budget pro-corporate: Virbhadra

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 28

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the Union Budget had completely ignored the hopes and aspirations of the common man, as it was an out-and-out pro-corporate Budget.

“It is completely a disappointing and disheartening Budget which only talks of tall promises and commitments without keeping in mind the expectations of a common man,” he said while talking to mediapersons here today.

He said the Budget was neither populist nor growth oriented as it failed to have any major impact on any sector or a section of people.

He said AIIMS had already been granted for Himachal for which he was grateful to the Centre. He, however, regretted that no incentive had been given to promote tourism sector in Himachal.

He said what was even worse was the fact that additional taxes of Rs 22,000 crore had been imposed which would obviously result in burdening the common man.

He said the Budget clearly reflected that it was pro-corporate as benefits worth Rs 8,000 crore had been doled out to industrial houses.

“The rise in service tax from 12.36 per cent to 14 per cent will result in rise in the prices of commodities, impacting the common man the most,” he said.

He said the enhancement of education cess would also burden people.

The CM said the failure of the Finance Minister in enhancing the income-tax slab had disappointed the salaried class, which was bound to adversely affect their savings.

He also condemned the move of the Finance Minister in deciding to impose a cess of 2 per cent Swachh Bharat cess.

“It would have been far better if efforts had been made towards launching a massive awareness campaign on Swachh Bharat,” he said.

He welcomed the decision of the Centre for making budgetary provision under MGNREGA as was before.