This is a hopeless Budget, says Trinamool Congress

Kolkata, Mar 1 (KNN) This is a hopeless Budget, said Trinamool Congress stating that it is not up to the mark and not pro industry, not pro farmer, not pro youth, not pro downtrodden and not pro people.

Commenting on the General Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday in the Parliament, Trinamool Congress said, “When something is good, Trinamool Congress is always positive in its outlook and constructive in its criticism. But when something is not upto the mark and not pro industry, not pro farmer, not pro youth, not pro downtrodden and not pro people, we are compelled to be critical.”

This Budget is not constructive, nor is it creative. It is stereotype and routine. We are left with no option, but to call it a hopeless budget: no hope for industry, no hope for the farmers, no hope for the poor, no hope for the middle class, no hope even for the Sensex, it added.

The ruling party in West Bengal further elaborated saying, “Why has the FM not mentioned the details of the changes in the FDI policy in his Budget Speech. It is shrouded in an annexure and opens up 100% FDI in many sectors. Why can’t the Government be transparent?”

“Lots of good prose in the budget, but where are the jobs? Where are the solutions?,” said AITC asking that how will the industry benefit?

“How will agriculture benefit? There are millions of hungry, young, unemployed youth yearning for jobs. Job creation has not been outlined,” the party said.

On Social Sector Schemes, the party said, “The FM made an attempt to emphasize on social sector schemes. But the reality is different. Almost 40 social sector schemes have been stopped and States have been burdened for funding new schemes. One example is the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sevak Yojana. Instead of the Centre now funding 100%, the Centre will only fund 60% and the States have to bear 40%. So in Bengal where 3000 crores was spent, the State would now have a burden of 1200 crores. Is this cooperative federalism?”

On the point of dialysis becoming cheaper, yes the machines will become cheaper but what about the cost of treatment and medicines which is always a burden?, said AITC.

The party said that while it is good that on the national level, rural electrification will be completed by 100% by 2018, Bengal has already achieved this in early 2016 itself.

On funds for the SC/ST entrepreneurs, the party asked “Rs.500 crores is all that you could allot for SC/ST?”

Further, it said that there are no major tax reforms to benefit the middle class. (KNN Bureau)