BJD leaders speak in different voices on Budget

BJD leaders today talked in different voices on Union Budget, with senior party members including its leader in Lok Sabha slamming it as "pro-rich" and "pro-corporate", while another leader lauded it as a "big bang" initiative that will boost economy.
BJD leader in Lok Sabha Bhartruhari Mahtab said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's budget was "very disappointing" as it did not have much for farmers and gave it only two marks out of 10.
The party's chief whip in Lok Sabha, Tathagata Satpathy, lamented that it was a "rich man's budget" and said "only a crony capitalist can like it".
Their views were, however, contradicted by party colleague Baijayant "Jay" Panda who termed the union budget as a "big bang" which can help the economy grow dramatically by giving a big boost to industry, promote agriculture and also help the middle class.

All the BJD leaders, however, lamented that there was nothing for the backward areas of Odisha in the budget while there were provisions for financial aid to neighbouring states like West Bengal and Bihar.
"It is a very disappointing budget as it does not have anything for farmers and poor people. It also lacks initiative in social sector," Mahtab said.

Echoing Mehtab's views, Satpathy said, "It is sad that agriculture, irrigation and projects like 'Project Tiger' and environment, alternative energy and food procurement do not find any mention. It is a rich man's budget. Only a crony capitalist can like it."

Panda, however, came out fully in support of BJP's first full year budget saying, "I think overall if you look at the Indian context, this can be considered as a big bang budget and it can help the economy grow dramatically."
"It is a big bang budget, which can promote industries and help the farmers and the agricultural sector. The 4.5 lakh IT limit will also help the middle class.
"New measures taken like furnishing PAN card number for transactions over Rs 1 lakh and bringing down service tax on usage of credit and debit card will certainly help bring down black money," Panda said. However, he joined his other party colleagues in lamenting lack of financial aid for backward Kalahandi Balangir Koraput region (KBK) of Odisha.

Another party MP Kalikesh Singhdeo said, "this is a budget for corporate sector. This is a budget for rich people. The farmers, the rural population got nothing out of it."
The Bolangir MP said the demand for giving special package for Odisha was not considered, saying, "Odisha which is deserving state for special package did not get due benefits. Only the states like Assam, Bihar, Bengal which are going for elections or ruled by alliance partners got some benefit out of it."
Panda also said as far as Odisha is concerned, "I think there may be some heartburn that while some neighbouring states have got special packages, we have backward areas like KBK for which we have been seeking special assistance that has not been announced."

"Odisha and other neighbouring states of course will also get a lot of revenue from the auctions of coal mines and other mineral resources," he said.