Manmohan ‘reasonably’ impressed, others pick holes
1 March 2015 11:40 PM GMT
While claiming that the agriculture sector has not received due attention, he described Jaitley as a “very lucky finance minister”. “He has inherited an economy which is in reasonably good shape and the inflation was under control, not because of anything we have done, but because the international prices of petroleum and other commodities have gone down.”
“I had hope, he will use this lucky phase to give a real big boost to stabilise the economy, strengthen the macroeconomic framework,” he added. Jaitley replied back by saying, “Thank you.” Echoing similar sentiments, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said, “It is “payback time for BJP and a very ‘suit’-able budget of its government as the entire tax structure has been well organised to give sops to the rich to get richer.”
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) criticised the Budget and called it “anti-people”. West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said, “On behalf of the West Bengal Government, I must say this is an “anti people” Budget.”
While claiming that 3.5 crore income-tax payers got some relief, Former finance minister P Chidambaram said, “The others have been burdened with increases in Excise duty and Service Tax.” SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav expressed concern that increase in customs, excise and service tax would trigger inflation. “The Budget has disappointed people of UP,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, described it as “progressive, positive, practical, pragmatic and prudent”. He tweeted that the Budget 2015 had a distinct focus on farmers, youth, poor, neo-middle class and the “Aam Nagrik”. “It delivers on growth, equity and job creation.”
“I had hope, he will use this lucky phase to give a real big boost to stabilise the economy, strengthen the macroeconomic framework,” he added. Jaitley replied back by saying, “Thank you.” Echoing similar sentiments, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said, “It is “payback time for BJP and a very ‘suit’-able budget of its government as the entire tax structure has been well organised to give sops to the rich to get richer.”
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) criticised the Budget and called it “anti-people”. West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said, “On behalf of the West Bengal Government, I must say this is an “anti people” Budget.”
While claiming that 3.5 crore income-tax payers got some relief, Former finance minister P Chidambaram said, “The others have been burdened with increases in Excise duty and Service Tax.” SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav expressed concern that increase in customs, excise and service tax would trigger inflation. “The Budget has disappointed people of UP,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, described it as “progressive, positive, practical, pragmatic and prudent”. He tweeted that the Budget 2015 had a distinct focus on farmers, youth, poor, neo-middle class and the “Aam Nagrik”. “It delivers on growth, equity and job creation.”
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