Bhubaneswar: Opposition Congress and ruling Biju Janata Dal Wednesday dubbed the Union Budget as ‘election-oriented’.
The Budget was prepared keeping in view the ensuing elections in several states and panchayat polls in Orissa, the leaders said expressing disappointment over the fact that it has offered nothing to farmers, traders and the poor affected by demonetisation.
“The budget has ignored the poor and downtrodden, especially the BPL families,” said leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra. He said, “One class rejoices when the Sensex goes up. This simply means the other sections of the society have been ignored.”
“Corporate houses are the main beneficiaries of this budget,” he said and added that no substitute was introduced after eight central schemes were delinked and funds slashed in 33 state schemes.
OPCC chief Prasad Harichandan expressed his anguish on Twitter: “#Budget2017 talk to counter demonetisation’s negative impact. It gives no relief to common man,” tweeted @prasadHofficial, the OPCC chiefs handle. Instead of providing special package to Orissa, it has been given a ‘‘short shrift’’, he said. “#Budget2017 KBK development needs ignored yet again,” he added.
Pulling up the Railway ministry for poor allocation, Prasad said, “Spending should match allocation and allocation should not be limited to papers only.”
Likewise, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and BJD senior leaders dubbed the Budget as a mixed bag and said it falls short of expectations on many counts.
While Patnaik said “not much has been done to address the adverse impact of demonetisation”, BJD spokesperson Pratap Jena said, “The budget is a mere announcement and is not realistic.” The budget looks like poll manifesto, he added.
BJD leaders said the crude oil reservoir package at Chandikhol is an old decision taken during the Vajpayee rule and termed it as “old wine in new bottle.”
However, BJP state unit president Basant Panda hailed the Budget as ‘historic” as “it gives fillip to many key sectors including agriculture, MSME, transport, health and education.”
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