BJP calls it progressive, Cong, CPM illusionary

Tribune News Service
Shimla, February 1

While the state BJP termed the Union Budget progressive benefiting all sections of society, the Congress and the CPM termed it a Budget, which has played a cruel joke on farmers and for being “illusionary for the common man and workers”.

Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh termed the Budget as an election stunt in which the NDA had tried to befool farmers, workers and other sections of society. “There is no new scheme or plan for the farmers of the state”, he added.

Virbhadra Singh said the Budget was silent on the creation of new jobs for the unemployed and declining growth rate, which was a matter of concern. “All election promises that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made remain unfulfilled and the people of the country are not going to be influenced by the election-oriented announcements by the Modi government”, he claimed.

Reacting to the Budget proposals and announcements, state BJP chief Satpal Satti said the Budget was realistic, progressive which would contribute to nation-building.

Satti said income tax exemption up to Rs 5 lakh, which would benefit the income group up to Rs 6.5 lakh per year, had won the hearts of the middle class. The Budget was pro-farmer as each farmer who had less than two hectare would get a direct benefit of Rs 6,000 per year for which Rs 75,000 crore had been provided, he added. Satti said the Budget had made provision of Rs 60,000 crore under MNREGA. The amount was Rs 33,000 crore during the Congress regime. The workers will get pension worth Rs 3,000 per month, which will benefit 10 crore workers in the country.

PCC president Kuldeep Singh Rathore said the Budget was nothing more than a “jumlabaji” in the election year in which the farmers, workers and the common man felt cheated. Each farmer will get Rs 17 per month, which was a cruel joke on them, he claimed.

CPM senior leader Rakesh Singha termed the Budget as “only illusionary and has nothing to give to the common man”.

He said without an economic survey, the actual state of affairs of the economy could not be assessed correctly. “The introduction of the interim Budget does not give relief to the workers, farmers, youth, students, women, traders, middle class. It is a sour pill with a sugar coating”, he added.

Singha said the Budget had not been able to address the agrarian crisis and was only a cruel joke on them.

With the General Election round the corner, the Central Government has tried to woo all sections of voters by announcing a farm income scheme, doubling of income-tax relief for the lower middle class and a pension scheme for the unorganised sector

Leader Speak

Several major announcements have been made for farmers, poor, women, students, businessmen and the middle class. — Jai ram thakur, chief minister

All election promises that PM Narendra Modi has made remains unfulfilled. The nation is not going to be influenced by these poll-oriented announcements — Virbhadra Singh, former chief minister

It does not give relief to workers, farmers, youth, students, women, traders and the middle class.  — rakesh singha, cPm leader