Interim budget evoked mixed reactions in Rajasthan as Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje termed it disappointing, Congress welcomed it and CPI (M) dubbed it as poll-oriented.
"The interim budget is directionless, disappointing and against the expectation of people. It is an unsuccessful effort to hide UPA government's non-performance.
Several announcements were made to woo people ahead of the elections but the interests of farmers and poor were ignored," she said in a statement.
There is no vision in the budget for strengthening of economy. No effective step was taken to deal with the issue of unemployment, she said.
Congress welcomed the interim budget saying it was dedicated to common man, women, youth, students, farmers and others.
PCC General Secretary Pukhraj Parashar said announcements like one rank one pension for defence sector, duty reduction on vehicles, Indian-made mobile handsets and others will provide relief to people.
CPI (M) dubbing the interim budget as poll-oriented, said it was a disappointing budget which gives no relief to the common man.
"The budget is disappointing and an election budget. The finance minister has attempted to hide economic failure and corruption which took place during UPA-II rule.
It is clear from the budget that Congress wants to control disturbing financial conditions through neo-liberal economic policies which are responsible for deterioration of economy," a CPI (M) release said here.
Rajasthan Khadya Padarth Vyapar Sangh said that it was a balanced budget.
"This is election year, therefore the budget is balanced. The government gave some relief by reducing duty on automobiles, soap, Indian-made mobile handsets," president of the Sangh, Babu Lal Gupta said.
Federation of Rajasthan Trade and Industry welcomed some of the announcements of the budget while terming others as disappointing.
"There should have been more focus in the budget for skill and technology development. The Finance Minister should have announced tax reduction on transportation, cold storage and warehousing whereas jewelers of the state were expecting cut on import duty on gold and silver but it was not fulfilled," 40 office bearers said in a joint statement.
Chief patron of the body, Surjaram Meel welcomed cut in duty on mobile handsets and said that it would boost domestic manufacturing of mobile handsets.
