Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 2: The Union Budget presented in the Parliament by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday has evoked mixed reaction in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP National general secretary Tarun Chugh lauded the Union Budget and described it as historic step towards the development of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement Chugh said that Modi Govt has always kept in mind that there should be equitable development of J&K for which the Union budget this time has enhanced the annual allocation by Rs 876.98 crores. As against the allocation of Rs 34,704 crores during last year, the budget this year has increased to 35,581 crores, which reaffirms the commitment of Modi Govt to ensure development of the region.
Chugh said two proposed hydel power units would also go a long way in improving the economic condition of the people of J&K.
YV Sharma, BJP spokesperson for JKUT termed the Union Budget for 2023- 24 as comprehensive, all inclusive, development oriented, futuristic and setting an agenda for the overall development of the country as envisioned by the PM Narendra Modi and the BJP. It reflects the benefits for the common people, the farm sector, the youth of the country, the women, the tourism, the Railways, the Defence sector, the Education, the Health sector , MSME’s and Infrastructure. The stress has been laid on making the country self- reliant and powerful in almost all the sectors. Women empowerment, defence sector ,agriculture, employment generation, poverty alleviation are the special features of the Budget, he added.
J&K National Panthers Party president Vilakshan Singh has termed the Budget 2023-24 as anti-poor and anti- youth.
He said that except for providing tax rebates, no relief has been provided to the masses. He said that the country is witnessing large scale unemployment and the Union Government while presenting the budget has done nothing to address the issue of unemployment. He said that even the farmers have got nothing from the budget. He said that the poor farmers are already suffering due to their inability to pay the loan availed by them. Making provisions for providing enhanced loans to the farmers would not address the problem.
The Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee of Trade Union expressed its deep concern and anguish over the Budget presented by the Finance Minister on Wednesday which is anti- people and anti- working class. Mohd Maqbool and Gurmeet Singh, president and general secretary (JKCCTU) while going through the budget said that the cut in MGNREGA funds and other subsidy on fertilizer has belied the hopes of down trodden sections of workers and peasantry and there is no relief to the unorganized sector workers.
They said neither there is any commitment to increase the minimum wages nor, already fixed minimum wages are being implemented to the vast sections of the workers thus giving the free hand to the capitalists to loot brazenly.
Castigating BJP Government for neglecting the two most significant sectors including Health and Education, Taranjit Singh Tony, Chairman of AAP J&K for Administrative Engagement and Minority Affairs, and Member DDC Suchetgarh said that Union Budget 2023-24 reflected that things of utmost significance have been left on mercy of God.
While speaking at a meeting in Suchetgarh Tony said that deliberate neglect of the Education sector is indicative of Modi Government’s resolve to keep India uneducated as education among Indians would make it difficult for BJP to befool the public again and again. He said that despite people’s misery and government’s humiliation during pandemic times over poor healthcare infrastructure, it has not learnt the much needed lessons and is not paying the requisite focus on the healthcare sector.
AAP leader said that instead of fortifying education and healthcare sectors, the myopic helmsmen have contrarily reduced the budgets of these fields showing bankruptcy of mind of those steering the country.
Traders Federation Trikuta Nagar (Jammu), president Abhinav Anand has welcomed the Union Budget passed by Finance Minister yesterday.
In a statement Anand said that the relief granted to the common people in the budget has made it a hit. Income Tax relief granted in the budget is good gesture. The budget not only takes care of the middle class but also addresses the issues of tribals, the poor and the fishermen. It focuses on digital growth and tax exemption is a big relief. He added that policies announced in the budget will strengthen the economy and ensure that Prime Minister Modi’s dream of $-5 trillion economy turns true.
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