MP Oppn boycotts Budget as ''anti-poor''

Bhopal, Feb 26 (UNI) The entire Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly today boycotted the Budget for 2006-07 alleging it to be ''anti-poor.'' At the fag end of State Finance Minister Raghavji's budget presentation, the Opposition stalked out of the House.

As soon as Mr Raghavji announced that entry tax on soap, provisions, dry fruit, vanaspati ghee (vegetable oil) and other items was proposed to be raised from 0.5 per cent to one per cent, the entire opposition -- including the Congress -- was on its feet in protest.

Leader of the Opposition Jamuna Devi, Satyadev Katare, Govind Singh, Rajnarayan Singh (all Congress), Dr Sunilam (Samajwadi Party), Ramlakhan Sharma (Communist Party of India-Marxist) and others began shouting slogans.

Responding to the Opposition's attack, the Minister said, ''the proposed tax is minimal.'' UNI