Raj budget is superficial, misleading: Cong

Jaipur, Mar 8: Congress in Rajasthan today trashed the state budget as "superficial and misleading" with no focus on job creation even as ruling BJP and industry bodies welcomed it saying it was "development-oriented".

"Most of the provisions in the budget appear departmental announcements. There is no focus on job creation and the figures presented by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in the budget regarding employment are incorrect," PCC president Sachin Pilot said.

He said that the Chief Minister has not presented any roadmap for the management of finance in the budget and has "misled' the people.

Pilot said that people had expected the government would reduce VAT on diesel and petrol but they were disappointed. Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Rameshwar Dudi claimed that the budget was weak and very superficial.

"Farmers, youth and businessmen were disappointed with the budget. The budget is indicating towards privatisation of sectors like energy, medical and health, education, road and transport," Dudi told reporters.

"The government's approach towards setting up the oil refinery is negative. No announcement for power project was made in the budget," he said.

On the other hand, Rajasthan BJP president Ashok Parnami said the budget has fulfilled people's expectations and will make Rajasthan a front-runner state. "It is a development oriented budget and has covered all the sections of the society.

It fulfills expectations of the people, particularly women and entrepreneurs. Several provisions have been made for the development in backward areas," Parnami said.

Union Minister of state for Information and Broadcast Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore claimed that the budget will take the state to "new heights in development".

"Students, women, youth, farmers and weaker section of the society were given special importance in the budget," he said.

PTI