Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal here on Saturday deplored the Modi government for presenting lacklustre and directionless budget. She said that Modi government which had made enticing promises to people of country before coming to power has disappointed the people by presenting a general budget which is hollow and does not set any roadmap for progress of the country.
She said that poor man has been ignored as budget focuses primarily on benefits to corporate and industrialists. Senior Congress leader said that there has been no respite for middle class also as there has not been any change in personal income tax.
She said that it is an anti-poor Budget adding that it has completely failed to fulfil the aspirations of poor and common man of nation.
Senior Congress leader also criticized increase in service tax rate to 14 per cent from 12.36 per cent emphasizing that it would put undue burden on common man.
Similarly, she said that rail budget is more of rhetoric and nothing substantial in terms of expanding or rail network. She said that entire region including Punjab had been totally ignored in the rail
budget.
She said that increase in freight charges will push up the prices of essential commodities which is really taxing on common man already bearing the brunt of price rise. She said that NDA Government which had made huge promises to regulate rising prices has absolutely failed emphasizing that there has been no respite for people from upward swing pertaining to increasing rates of basic commodities.
Bhattal also blasted Narendra Modi headed government at centre for its reported move to cut down wheat procurement from Punjab by 50 percent. She said that FCI reducing wheat procurement from Punjab would result in huge losses to farmers who are already reeling under various problem including les s prices to their Khariff crops.
She said that in case FCI goes ahead with its decision to cut down wheat procurement from Punjab, it would be a severe blow to farmers and would have massive detrimental impact on agro economy of the state.
She said that Modii-led NDA government of which the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is also important partner has been resorting to anti-farmer measures and proposals one after another after it took reins of the country last year in May. She also castigated Parkash Singh Badal led SAD-BJP combine government for being a mute spectator to anti-farmer proposals of Modi government.
