Union Budget 'Directionless': BJP

Vijayawada, Mar 2 (UNI) The Union Budget for 2007-'08 by Finance Minister P Chidambaram on February 28 was 'directionless', senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu said today.

Addressing a press conference here, he said it was a Budget ''with confusion, timidity and contradiction'' as no steps had been taken in the interests of the common man.

Mr Naidu observed that the UPA government would not take any strong decisions in the next Budget keeping in mind the 2009 Lok Sabha election.

Mr Naidu said the reduction of import duties on agricultural products would push the farmers into deep crisis.

Though the M S Swaminathan Commission had given good suggestions for the agricultural sector, the Centre had so far not announced any measures to implement them, he observed.

The Finance Minister had not paid any attention to price rise and increase in inflation, he alleged. Mr Chidambaram though aware of rising inflation has put the midde classes in despair by not making any announcment of tax exemption in the Budget.

He also raised the income tax limit merely, he added.

The Andhra Pradesh government has totally failed to get Central assistance, he added.

UNI