Why so jittery about advancement of Budget: Naidu to Opposition

Casting aside the Opposition parties' assertion that the Centre is trying to sway the impending assembly elections in its favour by advancing the Budget Session, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday wondered as to why the opposition was so "jittery" about it, since it is being done for the welfare of the people.

"Don't they want budget, don't they want development of the country. The budget is regular, its annual, it is not state specific, it is for the entire country. Social security and national security are very much needed for the country. Why are so jittery, that's my question to the opposition,' Naidu told media here.

Naidu further said the Opposition is rattled as they have sensed that they will not be able win the elections and that is why they are creating hurdles for the Centre to present the Budget earlier.

"The opposition is rattled because they are losing. The other day the language used some of the opposition parties against the Prime Minister, you may have seen how the public have reacted to that and now they have realised that they are losing election, they are trying to find some alibis," he added.

Several opposition parties, including the Congress, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the DMK and the JD (U), have been against the early presentation of budget as it would give "unfair advantage to the government" and "will misuse the budget presentation".

"It is clear that the government will misuse the budget presentation and try to allure the voters just before polls," Congress leader Anand Sharma told ANI.

"This gives unfair advantage to the government. It will influence the voters. It is clear that the government will misuse the budget presentation and the President's Address to both the houses of parliament which is customary to make announcements, popular schemes, and also try to allure the voters," he added.

The Opposition parties had earlier on Thursday approached the Election Commission demanding that the Budget be postponed to a date beyond March 8.

It contends that holding the Budget before the Assembly polls will allow the BJP to woo voters through various schemes.