While Sheila Dikshit highlighted several achievements of her government while presenting her 15th Budget in a row as chief minister, both the principal opposition BJP as well as the new entrant in Delhi political arena, Aam Aadmi Party termed the budget as ‘anti-poor’.

While BJP state president Vijay Goel said that the Budget lacks in vision for Delhi, AAP leader Manish Sisodiya said it lacks in proposals that is aimed at mitigating the problems of the aam aadmi. “It seems Sheila Dikshit is no more interested in Delhi. The Budget lacks in vision. The old proposals have once again been introduced in the Budget. One such example is announcement of a hospital at Burari,” said Goel.

The BJP leader also criticised CM for claiming that her government is not introducing any new tax. “The CM claims that no new tax has been introduced. However, the truth is that the state government has already burdened the city residents by increasing the water bill, power bill, sewer surcharge, circle rate and registry fee. The government had announced to give cash subsidy to two lakh beneficiaries, however, only 45,000 have received it,” said Goel.

The BJP leader said while the city government claims that the per capita income has increased five times over past 15 years, price rise has increased by 40 times.

Aam Aadmi Party called the Budget as being far from reality of the needs of city residents.
“The Budget has nothing that would take care of the increased power bills despite the fact that government itself admitted that the transmission loss has come down. If Delhi Jal Board is booking profits, why the budget lacks in proposal to reduce the water tariffs,” said Manish Sisodiya, AAP spokesperson.

He also raised the issue of corruption. “The CM has announced a pension of Rs 1,500 to senior citizens, but what has she done to ensure that the beneficiaries are not made to shell out Rs 500 as commission (paid as bribe to the government oficials),” he said.