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| Interim Budget evokes mixed response in states |
| Press Trust of India / New Delhi Feb 16, 2009, 20:36 IST |
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The Interim Budget presented in the Parliament today evoked mixed response in states with those ruled by Congress and UPA allies welcoming it while the governments of BJP and other opposition parties branded the exercise as "poll oriented and disappointing".
Welcoming the Budget Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said budgetary allocations will "lighten up lives of many people". His Maharashtra counterpart Ashok Chavan termed it as agricultural-friendly and said "it will strengthen agro sector, create more jobs and give impetus to rural banks."
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati described it as juggling of figures and industry-oriented, saying "it safeguarded interests of industrialists and neglected common man who has been left to deal with the unprecedented price rise."
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal described the budgetary proposals as "totally directionless and disappointing. The budgetary proposals were empty of substance and lacked fiscal daring required to tackle the problems faced by the poor. Aam Aadmi will be the biggest loser".
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the UPA did gross injustice to the "cash-strapped" state by not according special status to it.
"We have been demanding for a long time to put Bihar in the category of backward states. It's an election Budget without any realistic fundamentals of economy," Nitish said.
Striking a different not among Congress-ruled states, Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K Rosaiah expressed displeasure over the Budget and said it was "not encouraging" for the state.
The Budget threw cold water on state government's aspirations as it may not get Rs 3,800 crore under the state share from central taxes this year, he said.
Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said the Budget completely neglected the Left-ruled state's interests. "The state had asked for a special package to rehabilitate those who return from Gulf regions following job cuts and budget was silent about any measures in this regard."
His Karnataka counterpart B S Yeddyurappa said the Budget was "disappointing" as the Centre failed to initiate concrete measures to revive the economy and generate employment in times of recession.
West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said the exercise lacked steps for a serious review of the policy of globalisation and liberalisation to take up corrective measures.
"Due to adherence to policy of globalisation by the Centre, the global meltdown has adversely affected important sectors of economy." Concerns of the states had not been reflected in the Budget.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal alleged that the Budget was "discriminatory" against BJP-ruled states.
Though the Centre is announcing stimulus package to different sectors to overcome impact of global recession, the state's plea to extend package for the state found no favour.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje dubbed the Budget as a "political speech".
AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalithaa said it was a 'damp squib' and that it was not capable of taking the country on a higher sustained growth trajectory.
The UPA government has 'failed' to meet the challenges posed by the global financial crisis resulting in collapse of stock market, she added.
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Ajay Singh Chautala said the Budget was "disappointing and lacklustre".
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