AMN /
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has said that Union Budget lacks both vision and conviction. In a series of tweets, Mr Gandhi said, it is mere rhetoric without vision or action and can neither fool farmers nor the poor of the country.
He said, the budget is full of new promises without any account of tall promises made in last two budgets.He however, thanked the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for accepting his recommendation on removing import duty on Braille paper to help the visually impaired persons.
Congress criticised the general budget tabled in Parliament saying there is no big idea in it. Briefing media in New Delhi this evening, former Finance Minister and senior party leader P Chidambaram said there is no relief for the tax payer or for the middle class in the budget. He said little has been done to encourage private investments which leaves many projects stranded.
Mr Chidambaram added that there is no major initiative in increasing productivity of crucial crops and there is no promise of a fair and remunerative Minimum Support Price. Mr Chidambaram, however said, he is happy that UPA’s schemes are being continued in agricultural sector. He also expressed happiness that the government has spurned the advise of Chief Economic Adviser and went in for fiscal consolidation.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad termed the budget for 2016-17 as disappointing and said the proposals have belied the hopes of every section including industry, youth, farmers, women, traders and the common man. Azad, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said,BJP government has mismanaged the economy for two years in spite of a windfall on account of oil import bill. To cover its failures, the BJP keeps harping on the past, he said. Accusing the Narendra Modi government of having a focused budget for handful of businessmen, Azad said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has not offered any roadmap to revive the economy. Seeking to counter the claims of some analysts that the budget was rural-oriented, Azad said farming sector is in deep distress with farmers forced to commit suicide due to mounting
debt.