Budget a 'classic payback' exercise, says CPI-M

CPI-M today dubbed the Union Budget as a "classic payback" exercise, alleging that those who had "actively funded" the election of Narendra Modi were now being paid back.
"This is a classic payback budget as those who had actively funded the election of Narendra Modi are now being paid back," party leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters.
Insisting that the budgetary exercise would widen the gap between the rich and the poor, he expressed concern over the "drastic" reduction in the allocation for agriculture, rural development and social sectors.
"This means less public investment in the rural sector," he said expressing apprehension that attempts are being made to change the programmes like MGNREGA from an Act to a Scheme.

Such a move, he suggested, would hit hard the rural poor, as under the Act, the people are entitled to be given work by the government while the concept is diluted under a scheme.