"It is a lacklustre budget which has nothing for the people reeling under the high food prices. The budget will further burden the common man," said senior BJP MLA Jagdish Mukhi, initiating discussion on the budget.
Criticising levying of five per cent tax on CNG, Mukhi said it will lead to rise in auto, taxi and bus fares. "The government must withdraw the VAT on CNG."
Mukhi also slammed the government for the "huge gap" between plan outlay and non-plan outlay and said there has been only five per cent hike in plan outlay this fiscal comparing to last year.
"The government has kept only Rs 15,000 crore under plan outlay while non-plan outlay has been pegged Rs 18,268 crore," he said.
The senior BJP leader also attacked the government for failing to provide funds for development of villages across the city, saying the Dikshit dispensation has "totally ignored" the rural areas.
Speaking about plight of farmers whose land has been acquired by the government, he also demanded a law to prohibit acquisition of agricultural land.
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Participating in the discussion, senior Congress MLA Mukesh Sharma, however, describe the budget as a people-friendly budget.
"I thank Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for presenting a balanced budget in which a number of welfare schemes have been announced. The Budget will prove to be the last nail in the coffin of the BJP which has no concern for the poor and deprived sections," he said.
Sharma said despite multiplicity of authorities and other "administrative hurdles" the city government has been able to make Delhi one of the best cities in the world.
"BJP is making hue and cry over the prices of petrol. I would like to state that the BJP ruled states have not cared to forego VAT on the enhanced portion of petrol price whereas Congress governments in Uttrakhand, Kerala and Delhi have taken lead in providing relief to people," he said.
A number of MLAs from both ruling and opposition benches participated in the discussion.