Union Budget for 2008-09 best in recent memory

New Delhi, Apr 5 (UNI) Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Jai Prakash Agarwal today said the Union Budget for 2008-09, which has given tremendous relief to farmers, tax payers, women, chinldren and the unemployed, was the best in recent memory.

Addressing a public meeting at Chandni Chowk, as part of a series of meetings by the Congress to inform the public about salient points of the Union budget, Mr Agarwal, describing the Budget as a major achievement of the UPA-led Government at the Centre, said the budget was for the larger intrest of the people.

''Unfortunately, however, the communal and casteist BJP leadership had preferred to take a narrow minded view of the budget for cheap political gain, which has not gone down well with the public,''Mr Agarwal said at the meeting, addressed by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Union Minister and area MP Kapil Sibal, Delhi Transport Minister Haroon Yousuf and several Municipal councillors.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the union Budget not only waived off crores of rupees outstanding as farm loans but also gave a massive alliocation for the education sector which will bring a sea change in the field of education in Delhi, particularly in higher education.

Union Minister kapil Sibal said the budget had many salient features to help the poor, the downtrodden, women, children, handicapped and the unemployed to bring them in the mainstream of life.

He said the budget was not aimed at wooing the electorate in view of the coming elections but was a genuine effort to address various needs of the people and get them the necessary relief and benefits.

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