Budget lacks innovative schemes, says Dharam

Bangalore, Mar 20 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly N Dharam Singh today criticised the Budget for 2006-07, saying that it was a ''poetic'' one as it contained more poems than innovative schemes for the people of the state.

Talking to reporters after Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presented the budget in the state assembly here, he said the budget had nothing to give to the people of north Karnataka, particularly the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

He said it also did not mention anything about according special status to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region by invoking Article 371 and accused Mr Yediyurappa of having neglected the backward region.

Reacting to the budget, Former Deputy Chief Minister and AIPJD leader Siddaramaiah said the budgetary allocation to several sectors like irrigation, rural development and panchayat had not been increased substantially compared to the budget presented by him (Mr Siddaramaiah) last year. ''This can be proved by making a comparative study of the allocation charts,'' he added.

He claimed that even the 25 per cent rise in plan volume was achieved due to the rigorous economic reforms introduced by him during the last two years.

Mr Siddaramaiah said the government had also failed to collect cash compensation from the Centre following implementation of VAT in the state.

Welcoming the further reduction in the interest rate on farm loans, he claimed that it was his pioneering initiative that paved the way for the reduction not only in the state budget, but also the Centre.

UNI SIV RG TS1849