Budget not to check rising prices : Nitish

Patna, Feb 29 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said no concrete measure had been taken in the Union budget to check the rising prices of essentials and flayed the UPA Government for failing to fulfil its promise of special package to Bihar.

Mr Kumar told newspersons here that the budget would not provide succour to the commonmen facing the brunt of high prices of essentials.

'' The attempt of the UPA Government to address the issue of waiving loans to farmers reeling under debt is an indication that the General election is going to be held in this year itself, '' he stated.

The Chief Minister, however, welcomed the budget proposal to waive loans to farmers, but pointed out that there was no trace of any measure to mop up the fund to meet the huge expenses to be incurred by the Centre in this regard.

'' The waiving of loans to the farmers would not give any benefit to Bihar as Banks and financial institutions operating here do not grant loans to the farmers of the state, '' he said adding farmers in Bihar usually borrow money from private money lenders to meet their agrarian expenses.

Referring to the special package for Bihar, Mr Kumar said Common Minimum Programme of the UPA Government had envisaged to grant the same to the state, but it had failed to fulfill its promise.

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