Government to present budget in first week of July: Pranab

New Delhi, May 26 (ANI): Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the government would present the budget for 2009-10 in the first week of July.

"I would not like to have a second batch of vote on account. The budget will be presented in the first week of July," he told a news channel.

Dwelling on issues to be addressed in the budget, he said, "There are certain sectors which have been very badly hit by the global financial crisis-external factors. Export sector, particularly -- textiles, leather, gems and jewellery. Their problems have to be addressed. We have strength in economy; Indian economy is resilient. Whatever the economy needs will be done."

Earlier, Mukherjee had expressed hope that the government would be able to present the budget in time to avoid uncertainties.

Mukherjee had presented an interim budget in February. He had sought the approval from the Parliament for withdrawal of money from the consolidated fund only till July 31.

The government is required to get the budget passed by Parliament by July 31 as the vote-on-account (which allows government to withdraw money from Consolidated Fund) sought in the interim budget comes to end on July 31. (ANI)