Budget evokes mixed response from people

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 21

The Punjab state budget present by Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal has evoked mixed reactions from city residents.

Some farmers said the amount of loan waiver was not yet clear. Moreover, it is also not cleared what is going to be the criteria for the loan debt waiver, they added.

On the other hand, some farmers were very happy that at least some amount of loan is going to be shelved by the government.

Gurmail Singh, a farmer, said, “What about those farmers who took loans from commission agents? Are they going to get any relief?” he asked.

Bishan Singh, another farmer, said, “I am worried because I took loan from the SBI. Now, we have no idea whether they are going to give relief only to those farmers who took loans from the state-oriented banks or other banks as well.”

Congress leader Pawan Mani said, “It is a great budget in which all promises have been taken care of.”

Rajinder Mittal, an industrialist, said, “We are happy with the budget but it is yet not cleared what criteria are they going to set for Rs 5 per unit power tariff and 3 per cent reduction on registration of urban property.”

AAP leader Deepak Bansal said, “The budget is totally opposite to what they said during the elections.”

CA Atul Garg said, “Reduction of three per cent duty on registration of urban property is a good step to give a fillip to the real estate sector. Otherwise, the budget has nothing much to cheer about as many things were promised before elections. People had high hopes from the Finance Minister but the budget has nothing for Bathinda.”

BJP leader Tarsem Goyal said, “The budget is a mockery of the people as during elections, they promised to give Rs 2,500 as old age pension but now, they have just hiked it from Rs 500 to Rs 750.”

Gian Chand Bansal, district president of the Democratic Swaraj Party, said, “The government has touched all issues, which they promised in the elections, but the funds allocated for them are very less.”