T'gana CM hails maiden budget; Oppn expresses disappointment

Even as the ruling TRS hailed the maiden Budget of Telangana, the main opposition Congress and other parties expressed disappointment over it.
Hailing the Rs 1,00,637 crore budget presented in the Legislative Assembly by Finance Minister E Rajender, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said the budget reflected people's aspirations and the spirit of separate statehood agitation.
The importance given to state government's major schemes and programmes like 'Kalyana Lakshmi' for welfare of girls, restoration of tanks, laying a drinking water grid, land distribution for Dalits, construction of roads, highlighted the intentions of the government, he said.
"The first steps towards achieving the goal of 'golden Telangana' have been taken with the maiden Budget," Rao said.

However, Opposition Leader K Jana Reddy of Congress alleged that the budget did not address the burning problems like farmers' suicides, promise of farm loan waiver, shortage of electricity.
"We are disappointed that the budget did not reflect the aspirations of the people. The suicides of farmers, loan waiver, shortage of electricity, drought-like situation, scarcity of rains and measures to address it and announcing drought-hit mandals have not been addressed," he said.

Telangana TDP president L Ramana alleged that the acute shortage of electricity prevailing in Telangana has not been taken care of adequately.
Recalling that substantial amount was given earlier for farmers' who committed suicides, he alleged that no such move has been made.

BJP Floor Leader in the Legislative Assembly K Laxman charged that the budget fell short of expectations.
"They (government) said we are moving ahead innovatively. They delayed the budget session of the Legislative Assembly. There is a saying that a hill was dug and a rat was caught. Similar is the case of this budget," he said.