Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Nana Patole on Wednesday vehemently criticized the central government budget for disappointing the people of the country.
Announcements should be made in the budget but not to actually implement them is the modus operandi of the Modi government.
The budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is part of the same process.
There is nothing concrete in this budget beyond catchy slogans, rhetoric, numbers game and a rosy picture that the government has tried to paint.
The finance minister did not utter a single word on the burning issue of inflation, unemployment, problems faced by the farmers, MNREGA, petrol, diesel, LPG gas prices, minimum support price for agricultural produce,said Mr Patole.
Mr Patole further said that the agriculture sector, which employs the largest number of people in the country, and the farmers did not get any relief from the budget.
There was no concession in the interest rate of crop loans nor did the government announce any increase in the minimum base price, nor was the GST on fertilizer and seeds reduce. Nor did the Finance Minister give any formula to double the income of the farmers.
Apart from catchy words such as Shri Anna, chemical free natural farming, Kisan Drone, digital and hi-tech services for farmers, the farmers have not got anything from this budget,he pointed out.
In Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattigarh, the Congress governments have implemented the old pension scheme, under pressure by this, the central government has given a relief of Rs 50,000 in income tax. But that announcement is also deceptive.
In the run up to the elections, the middle class was expected to get tax relief, but the government has disappointed them.
According to the new income tax scheme introduced by the government today, those with an income of Rs 10 lakh will have to pay income tax of Rs 78,000. In the old scheme it was Rs 65,000. Instead of getting relief here, the income tax burden of Rs 13,000 will fall on the middle class, in this new income tax structure benefit can be sought on home loans, under section 80C, 80D, 24B will be available,he added.
