Budget 'directionless', nothing for 'aam aadmi': Opposition

Trashing it as a "futile exercise", senior BJP leader Anant Kumar said it has no proposals to contain rising prices and offered no succour to the 'aam aadmi'.
Terming the Budget as "timid", former NDA Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said it is "completely devoid of reforms."

Another BJP leader Rudra Narayan Pany termed it a "clear-cut election Budget" which indicated that the Government could go for mid-term polls.CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said the Budget was "directionless" and did not reflect any seriousness by the Government to address the issue of unemployment or keenness to mop up additional resources and taxing rich people.

"It's a nominal Budget with no direction. This is a directionless Budget in which no efforts have been made to raise additional resources and taxing rich people. No attempts have been made to increase employment in the Budget. It is a thoughtless exercise," Dasgupta said.

Terming the Budget as insensitive, CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu alleged that a large number of poor people were excluded from subsidies.

"Where is the question of inclusion in this Budget? The government is taking cue from the global finance regime," Basu said.

BJD MP Jay Panda described it as "mixed Budget" but rued that "no steps were taken by the government to contain inflation".

Asked if the Budget was presented with an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections in five states, SP spokesperson Mohan Singh said, "It may be even aimed at the general elections."

JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav said the Government has not proposed any steps to bring back black money or to fight corruption.

"Even the Rs 25,000 crore given for the anti-Naxal operations does not seem to be adequate," he added.

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad, however, said he was "happy" about the Budget but would be happier if certain bills proposed in it come through.He welcomed Budget proposals for providing cash subsidy in fertilisers, LPG and kerosene directly to the consumers.