The budget is disappointing: Nitish

Patna, Feb 28 (UNI) Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today described the budget as "disappointing" saying that the most sought "special package" has not been given to Bihar.

Mr Kumar told newspersons here that the people of Bihar were frustrated with the budget of the UPA government as no new project had been earmarked for the state. He said instead of according special category to Bihar it has been placed in the list of the states selected for Backward Region Grant Fund scheme and the fund approved for it was inadequate.

Mr Kumar said the union finance minister did not mention the fate of the annual sanction of Rs 1000 crore given by the previous NDA government to Bihar. The FM did not even utter a single word about the fund which was not being released to the state for the past four years, he added.

Commenting on the budget, he said, the FM had not taken concrete step to check inflation. The UPA government had failed to take any step to promote agriculture, he added.

Mr Kumar also said the FM's statement stating that the farmers were sitting idle was self explanatory about the intention of the government towards the section.

Lowering of import duty on edible oil would have an adverse impact on domestic production, he added.

Mr Kumar said the financial assistance given through the gross budget support would only benefit the central ministries and the states would remain deprived of any benefit.

On the educational aspect the government's proposals were disappointing as announcements for appointment of 2 lakh teachers and the number of scholarships were insufficient, he said adding that the FM remained silent over the earlier proposals for spending six per cent of GDP on education.

He further stated that the FM was trying to mislead the people of Bihar by announcing to include the construction of rail cum road bridge in Munger under National Project which he said was already under the National project.

UNI