The Union Budget today came in for sharp criticism by the opposition, which called it "disappointing and directionless", even as the ruling BJP defended it, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered on the promise of curbing black money and ushering in transparency in political funding.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said the budget lacked a "clear vision" and had nothing for farmers, youth and job creation, while West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee dubbed it as "clueless, useless and heartless". She also wanted to know why no data was given on demonetisation.
Left parties termed the budged as "contractionary" and a "complete gimmick", alleging that figures given by the Finance Minister did not match the reality.
Opposition parties also accused the Modi government of preparing the budget proposals keeping in mind the Assembly polls in five states.
"We were expecting fireworks. Instead, it was a damp squib. It is just 'sher-o shayari' in the budget. There is nothing for farmers and youth, and nothing for job creation. There is no clear vision," Rahul Gandhi said after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the budget in Lok Sabha.
BJP President Amit Shah, however, said Modi had fulfilled the promise made in 2014 to check black money and bring transparency in political funding with the budget proposing limiting cash funding to political parties from a single source at Rs 2,000.
"We had promised in 2014 to root out influence of black money in political funding and bring in transparency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has today fulfilled that promise.
"By reducing the limit of cash funding to political parties to Rs 2,000 from Rs 20,000, he has ushered in a new era," Shah said.
Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said the figures provided by the government in the budget were "doubtful" as the projections made were based on only six to seven months and the effect of demonetisation has not been accounted for.
"The budget is lacking in direction and has no proposals for accelerating manufacturing or job creation. This budget as such, which was preponed (sic) for narrow electoral gains and to influence voters, thereby undermining fairness of forthcoming elections in five states, has deeply disappointed everyone-be it the investors, farmers and youth," he told reporters.
However, several ministers and BJP leaders hailed the budget as "inspiring" and "transformational", contending that it will give a strong push to infrastructure sector, bring about electoral reforms and benefit the farmers, poor and the middle class. They also lauded Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for offering "many" concessions to honest tax payers coming down on those evading taxes and fleeing the country.
"It's a fine exercise taken up by the Finance Minister. It's very inspiring, bold steps have been announced. Political funding has been made transparent. People will be happy. Some political parties will become poor. That is why our opponents are saying the budget is anti-poor.
"Leaders of Congress and other parties said this budget is anti-poor. It means that these parties which were being run on black money, they will become extremely poor," Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said the
fourth budget of the Narendra Modi government had come but the BJP was still unable to bring about "achhe din".
Terming the budget as "contractionary" and a "complete gimmick", the CPI(M) said it would neither help in expanding domestic demand nor increase employment but burden people as the government aims at "substantially" hiking indirect taxes to raise resources.
"The Finance Minister has joined the Prime Minister and the BJP President in producing 'jumlas'. And this budget is a classic example of that," party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told reporters.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress boycotted the first two days of the Budget session to protest against demonetisation, claimed it had no road map for development and was full of hollow words.
"A controversial #Budget2017 which is clueless, useless, baseless, missionless and actionless. Heartless. No roadmap for the country or the future from a government that has lost all its credibility," Banerjee said in a tweet.
RJD President Lalu Prasad said it was "bereft of any substance" and questioned the rationale of continuing with a Railway minister who did not present the Rail Budget.
He also described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "twin brother" of new American President Donald Trump who, he said, was seen "taking wayward decisions" since ascending to the top chair in the US.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar described the Budget as "utterly disappointing" and said it had not "clarity" on how much black money or fake currency was netted during the 50 days after demonetisation. A former Railway Minister, Kumar also slammed the government for merging the Railway Budget with the General Budget, saying it would ruin the public transporter.
JD(U) MP and former party president Sharad Yadav dubbed it "direction-less" and attacked the government for not waiving loans of farmers who are "reeling under financial problems".
However, the government's proposal to cleanse political funding by bringing in transparency did find favour with most opposition leaders.
"Any step to clean political funding will be supported by us," Rahul Gandhi said.
