Opposition reacts to Budget 2015

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday presented the much-awaited Budget of the Narendra Modi government in the Parliament. Soon the budget session came to an end the leaders and markets gave a mixed reaction to it.

NewsMobile brings to its readers reactions of Opposition parties and industry leaders.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: The budget reflected lot of “good intentions” of the NDA government but it lacked any clear roadmap to achieve the goals. Describing the budget as disappointing, Singh said the Modi’s dispensation did not lay out any framework to implement various initiatives announced in the budget.

“My worry about the budget is that it has good intentions but it does not have an adequate roadmap and framework to implement the inititiaves,” the former Prime Minister said.

He said though lot of funds have been established there was no concrete direction to convert them to solid action plan.

Singh was also critical of the government over “inadequate” fund allocation to various welfare measures for rural areas of the country and poor people. 70% of the people in the country live in rural areas. There was not much attention to them, Singh added.

P Chidambaram, former Finance Minister: The budget leans heavily in favour of the corporate sector, said former Finance Minister Chidambaram.

Slamming Jaitley Chidambaram said, “Class that pays income tax heavily favoured in the Union Budget 2015.” Chidambaram further added, the budget must also acknowledge and attempt to address the concerns of class that doesn’t pay Income tax.

Former Finance Minister taking a dig at Modi government said, “When UPA left office, growth was 6.9%. Unfortunate that government refuses to recognise that fact.” Making attack on the government Chidambaram addressing mediapersons said, the additional borrowing is not going into planned expenditure but is going into non-planned expenditure.

Taking clear shot at Finance minister Chidambaram said, “Every year we increased the plan expenditure; this must be the first time plan expenditure is to be dropped.”

Just like Planning Commission, looks like the government has done away with planning too, Chidambaram said further.

Supriya Sule, NCP: Budget 2015 is disappointing, they could have done much more.

Siddharth Birla, FICCI: A very balanced budget, relaxation has been given for job creation & job creators.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress: Budget 2015 is just a vision document, a budget in interest of corporates and industrialists.

Kamal Nath, Congress: This has only been the budget of Commissions, committees and promises.

Jay Panda, BJD: It is a big bang budget as far as country and economy is concerned.

Mayawati: This is not a practical budget, not as per the aspirations of poor & common man of nation.

PC Chacko, Congress: Govt had enough money, that’s why they could provide so many things. Some schemes we welcome, but when they follow schemes started by UPA govt, they should have at least acknowledge it.

Ambika Soni, Congress: They continue to please & work for benefit of businessmen and corporate houses.