UPA's ally CPI unhappy with budget

New Delhi, Feb 29 (UNI) The CPI, an ally of the UPA, today criticised the Union Budget for 2008-2009, saying it had failed to address the problems of farmers on a long-term basis, and was silent on revenue mobilisation.

Though welcoming the waiver of loans for farmers, it said the goverment could have gone more and set up the National Debt Relief Commission and reduced interest rate for farmers.

''The waiver of loan addresses only the current crisis. The budget in general has failed to solve the longterm problems of farmers,'' said CPI General Secretray D Raja talking to newspersons just after presentation of the budget.

''Instead of indicating any new direction, the budget addresses only the damage done in the past and continues its previous direction towards economic reforms,' he said.

Mr Raja also criticised the budget allocation for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, saying it was a very samll amount. If everything was calculated, the increase was not more than Rs 4000 crore whereas the scheme had now been extended to the whole country.

He said the Finanace Minister has not said anything on how he would mobilise revenue, as the budget was totally silent on the Corporate tax UNI NAZ AT HS1343