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#Budget2019: BJP leaders hail 'robust announcements', Opposition dubs it 'jumla'

#Budget2019: BJP leaders hail 'robust announcements', Opposition dubs it 'jumla'

By Shalini Ojha
Feb 01, 2019
03:02 pm
What's the story

The interim budget presented by acting Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday invited a flurry of reactions in the country. With big announcements which would benefit farmers and salaried class, the Narendra Modi led government clearly hopes to regain lost trust. However, the Opposition dubbed it a desperate move by the Centre to garner votes ahead of crucial Lok Sabha elections.

Announcements

Centre announces tax-relief for salaried class, direct cash for farmers

Goyal's announcement of tax exemption for those earning up to Rs. 5 lakh/annum sent a wave of relief across the salaried class. The Centre also announced the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme which would benefit farmers having less than 2 hectares of land. Under this scheme, Rs. 6,000/year, divided into three installments, will be deposited into bank accounts of marginalized farmers.

Unorganized sector

Centre announces mega pension scheme for unorganized sector

Another big-ticket reform announced in the budget was Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan which will cater to the workers of the unorganized sector. With a contribution of Rs. 100 or less, workers in this sector would get a minimum pension of Rs. 3,000/month after turning 60. In his speech, Goyal said the foundation for a new India was being laid by PM Modi's government.

Jaitley's words

Jaitley congratulates Goyal for presenting 'excellent budget'

Reactions to the budget followed soon after Goyal concluded his speech. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who couldn't present the budget as he is recuperating from illness in the United States, tweeted the announcements were "Pro-Growth, Fiscally prudent, Pro-Farmer, Pro-Poor". He congratulated Goyal for presenting an excellent budget which will help PM Modi's initiative of dealing with challenges of the Indian economy.

Twitter Post

NDA's budgets have given relief to middle class, feels Jaitley

Reactions

Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Sitharaman heap praises on government

Unsurprisingly, other members of the saffron party also hailed the budget. Home Minister Rajnath Singh called it a historic budget which will benefit all sections of society. Textile Minister Smriti Irani said this "robust budget" will give thrust to "Digital India, Infrastructure & Defense". Nirmala Sitharaman thanked PM Modi for allocating the biggest ever budget for the defense sector.

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Budget of people, for the people, tweets Suresh Prabhu

Negative reactions

Meanwhile, Opposition leaders weren't happy with the budget

But the Congress was far from impressed. Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said this wasn't a vote on account but "account for votes". Parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor tweeted the only good thing to come out of this budget was tax exemption. Other than that the exercise was a 'damp squib'. He wondered if Rs. 500/month for marginalized farmers would help them live a dignified life.

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A jumla budget that insults hardwork: RaGa attacks 'NoMo'

Quote

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh criticizes 'election budget'

"It's an election budget. In these circumstances of the case, concessions to farmers and concessions to the middle class will obviously have implications in the election," Dr. Singh told NDTV.

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"Tax relief is equivalent to price of two movie tickets"

Details

Government troubled every class for last five years, tweets Akhilesh

Samajwadi President Akhilesh Yadav said the budget was full of lies. He dismissed all the schemes saying farmers didn't get anything substantial and after troubling all classes for five years, the government just handed out an illusion. Dr. Ashok Dhawale, national president of the All India Kisan Sabha, said the announcement of Rs. 6,000/year for farmers was "worse than a lollipop".

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"Kya karoge laa ke budget," asks Yadav