NDA MPs hope budget will empower villages, farmers

Ruling NDA MPs today hoped that the General Budget's rural pitch will blunt opposition attack and help the alliance in the forthcoming assembly polls.

The first BJP Parliamentary Party meeting in the session in which members of its allies were also invited had Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speak in detail about India's strong growth amid the global slowdown and members were also briefed about government's developmental agenda in the coming years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah besides other senior leaders attended the meeting.

"MPs were very enthusiastic about the budget as it will empower villages, farmers and youth. It is dedicated to them and all round development of the country. India has always been called an agrarian country but this is the first time that people have realised that with the budget being dedicated to farm sector," Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters.
 
"We have heard about 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' and this budget is dedicated to 'Jai Kisan'," he said following the meeting.

Shah also praised the budget.

A presentation was also made in the meeting about the government's development projects aimed at poor, youth and weaker sections, he said.

By 2019, he said, all villages will have electricity, water, irrigation and road connectivity, he said. That year, incidentally, is also scheduled to hold the next Lok Sabha poll.

Members also spoke about the government's efforts to bring people under the net of social security.

Modi did not speak in the meeting, he said.

Asked about the opposition's notice for privilege motion against HRD Minister Smriti Irani, he said BJP members had also brought privilege motion against some opposition members.

"Some parties have been beaten during the debate in Parliament on the issue. Now they are crying in frustration," he said, in a dig at Congress and other opposition parties.