NEW DELHI, Feb 1: Dubbing the budget by the Modi Government as an “election manifesto,” the Congress on Friday accused it of “bribing” voters ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in its “full-fledged budget” instead of an interim one.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also alleged the Government has destroyed the lives of farmers over the past five years, and now by announcing “Rs 17 a day” for them in the budget, they have insulted them for everything they stand and work for.
However, leaders of the BJP-led NDA lavished praise on the budget and expressed hope that its sops for the middle class, farmers and small industries will boost their electoral prospects. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it benefits every section of society and will boost growth.
While former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dubbed the budget as an “election budget”, Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge termed it as BJP’s “election manifesto”.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Kharge said: “This is all being done for elections. I directly charge them of paying bribe to voters.”
Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, in the Interim Budget, announced that farmers will be provided Rs 6,000 per year in three installments under a central Government scheme. This translates into Rs 16.44 daily.
Attacking the Government over the announcement, Gandhi said on Twitter: “Dear NoMo, 5 years of your incompetence and arrogance has destroyed the lives of our farmers. Giving them Rs. 17 a day is an insult to everything they stand and work for.” He used the hashtag ‘AakhriJumlaBudget’ with his tweet.
When asked by reporters about the budget being hailed as a “surgical strike” by a Union minister, Gandhi said “surgical strike” will happen on the Prime Minister and his government on issues such as Rafale, jobs and demonetisation. (PTI)
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