Mixed signals from Cong

The Congress gave confusing signals on the Budget — while a section of the party termed it as a continuation of the UPA’s reform initiatives, another section termed the trends in it as dangerous.

The BJP, as only to be expected, said it will shape the future of the country’s economy.

The Left parties said for Narendra Modi, it is pay back time to corporate houses that funded his election campaign.

The AIADMK welcomed the Budget, but the Trinamool Congress and the BSP termed it ‘anti-people’.

Congress leader and former Defence Minister AK Antony said certain suggestions, such as increasing the FDI limit in defence and cutting subsidies, are dangerous.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, on the other hand, said the UPA’s imprint on Government policies on fiscal consolidation, GST, FDI cap in insurance and social sector schemes were visible throughout Jailtye’s speech and the documents.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the Government has drastically cut down spending in the social sector.

“The Budget proposes drastic cuts in central Plan outlay in agriculture and allied sectors, rural development and social services and women and child development. There is no increase in allocation in MGNREGA, Indira Awas Yojna, rather in real terms it has declined,” he said.

CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP D Raja said the Budget is corporate-friendly with focus on PPPs and FDI and is hardly any different from Congress budgets. “Banking nationalisation is being revoked by deciding to sell the shares of public sector banks. This will no longer insulate our economy from the ongoing financial crisis,” he added.

BSP supremo Mayawati said the Centre ignored the poor and price rise.

“The BJP’s Budget has sold many dreams for the poor, dalits, backward classes and small traders, and has made many only announcements. No allocations have been made,” she said.

The AAP termed it a ‘damp squib’. “Apart from saying that the Government has enough food grains to deal with poor monsoon, no contingency plan has been revealed,” the party said on Thursday.