A number of Congress members of Parliament yesterday criticised the budget as pro-rich at the second round of discussions on it by the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP). Some of them urged that the party should threaten to move cut motions to force modifications.
If any cut motions that could bring down the government are to be moved, they will come from the Congress. The Left parties have said that they will not allow their problems with the budget to destabilise the government. And the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), though it is ready to support any other motion to bring down the government, plans no cut motions of its own.
CPP secretary M Hanumanthappa yesterday said that the Congress would press the government to make provisions, perhaps for the partys favourite poverty alleviation schemes. Asked if this pressure was a threat, Hanumanthappa said that it could turn into a threat.
The party is more likely to limit itself to clearly stipulating the points on which it differs with the budget. The party did not want the government to take its support for granted, Hanumanthappa said.
CPP members expressed concerns on low agricultural and industrial growth rates, inadequate allocations for agriculture and rural development and the elitist thrust of the budget.
They pointed out that the Left leaders, who had initially welcomed the budget, were now also criticising it.
A number of members spoke of the need to focus budgetary allocations for political gains. MP from Andhra Pradesh B N Reddy cited Indira Gandhis popular roti, kapada aur makaan (food, clothes and housing) slogan and proposed that the party adopt paani, bijli aur makaan (water, electricity and housing) as its new slogan.
Jagannath Mishra, a prominent member of the Rao camp, said that many people were convinced that the budget was only for the rich. He spoke of the Congress inability to communicate its economic policies to the poor as a major reason for its defeat.
Former Gujarat finance minister Sanat Mehta also referred to Indira Gandhis housing and other schemes, which he said had generated confidence among the poor. The Rao government had lifted the countrys economy, but the partys vote banks had been eroded, he pointed out.
To combat communal, casteist and separatist politics, the Congress must identify itself with the working classes and the poor. He added that textile workers were facing a tough time.He emphasised the dangers of the rate of agricultural growth not matching population growth. Food security was of great importance. Mehta is close to Sharad Pawar and to former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar.
Sriballabh Panigrahi pointed out that the budget had been welcomed by the media only because its tax cuts benefited opinion builders. But, the entire population other than the richest 1.2 million was untouched. Even among taxpayers, he added, the richest of these had benefited the most. On the other hand, the inflation which the budget and the railway budget would surely hit the poor.
No thrust had been given to building infrastructure, particularly power and transport, he complained.
