Trinamool's O'Brien terms Budget a 'bluff show'

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien on Thursday termed the Union Budget for 2018-19 as disappointing, saying it was a "big bluff show" with no mechanism to implement the announcements.

O'Brien, who is the Trinamool parliamentary party leader in the Rajya Sabha, told reporters here that "people have lost their trust" in the BJP-led government and "its credibility is now zero with today's budget".

"Super-flop, big bluff show. No mechanism to implement announcements. It is clear that all sections are displeased, disappointed, angry -- the unemployed, the farmers, the youth, SC, ST, majority, minority," he said.

Referring to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's announcement of a National Health Protection scheme, which will provide a medical coverage of Rs 5 lakh for 10 crore families, he said West Bengal already gives free treatment and medicines.

"Our schemes on health, education and the emancipation of girls have already been implemented."

On the Modi government's plan to double farmers' income by 2022, he said West Bengal has already achieved this.

"Bengal have already doubled farmers' income in five years. Now the Government of India is again talking about doubling farmers' income. Will agriculture grow at 12 per cent per annum? They are again bluffing," he said.

--IANS

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