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BJP terms union budget as words for poor and deeds for rich

The government was faced with another embarrassment in Rajya Sabha on Monday, as finance minister P Chidambaram was found absent during discussion on the Union Budget. ‘This is really an insult to the House, the minister is expected to be present,’ said Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) leader Venkaiah Naidu. The BJP leader also sought to know if the Finance Minister had taken the Chair’s permission for his absence.

The finance minister had left for Chennai to hold talks with DMK leader M Karunanidhi over India’s stand on the US resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council.

The BJP during the discussion termed the Union Budget as uninspiring and deceptive and said it had failed to address important issues of corruption, inflation, black money and agriculture crisis confronting the nation. Naidu also accused the Finance Minister of indulging in jugglery of financial figures. He said the budget showed an increase of only 6.58 per cent in real terms from that of previous year, which was lower than the rate of inflation.

The BJP member also said the growth rate of 8.4 per cent in 2004 during the NDA regime was highest during the last 14 years and it had plummeted to the pre-reforms period growth of 5 per cent during UPA regime.He said the budget showed deficit all over and no solution appeared to be in sight and described the situation as gloomy.

‘Words for the poor and deeds for the rich. Take away from the poor and give away to the rich. This is the motto of the budget,’ said Naidu, adding, ‘Chidambaram’s policy seems to be injustice for all and appeasement to none.’ He said the budget has no big and bold ideas and has failed to address major challenges. ‘It is silent on violent corruption and blackmoney,’ said Naidu.

Naidu said the people expected government to give a solution to the problems confronting the nation. ‘This Budget is silent on blackmoney as not even one word has been said on it. The Budget failed to address two important issues – corruption and inflation – both of which are breaking the backbone of people,’ said BJP leader.
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