JD(S) terms union budget anti-poor

Bangalore, Feb 29 (UNI) The Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka has severely criticised the Union Budget for 2008-09, terming it ''anti-poor, anti-urban and anti-farmer''.

In a statement here, JD(S) State President Merajuddin Patil said the farm loan waiver scheme announced by the UPA Government would not benefit the Karnataka farmers as former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had already implemented it.

He felt that the long standing demand of sugarcane growers for remunerative price for their product remained a dream. ''While restricting beneficiaries of the farm loan to only small and medium farmers, the UPA Government has showed discrimination to the farming community,'' he said.

The minorities and the oppressed classes felt disappointed as the budget offered no hope to them, he added.

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