BJP today termed the Union Budget as "uninspiring" and "deceptive" and said it had failed to address important issues of corruption, inflation, blackmoney and agriculture crisis confronting the nation.
Initiating the discussion on the Union Budget 2013-14 in the Rajya Sabha under protest due to the absence of Finance Minister P Chidamabaram in the House, Venkaiah Naidu (BJP) accused the Finance Minister of indulging in "jugglery" of financial figures and "deception" before the people.
He said the budget showed an increase of only 6.58 per cent in real terms from that of previous year, which was lower than the rate of inflation.
Naidu said the Finance Minister should have compared his budget estimates with that of previous years' BE, but he had instead compared the data with previous year's revised estimates. "This is nothing but deception. Credibility of the budget system is lost," he said.
The BJP member also said the growth rate of 8.4 per cent in 2004 during the NDA regime was highest during the last 14 years and it had plummeted to the pre-reforms period growth of 5 per cent during UPA regime.
He said the budget showed deficit all over and no solution appeared to be in sight and described the situation as "gloomy".
"Words for the poor and deeds for the rich. Take away from the poor and give away to the rich. This is the motto of the budget," Naidu said, adding, "Chidambaram's policy seems to be injustice for all and appeasement to none."
He said the budget has no big and bold ideas and has failed to address major challenges. "It is silent on violent corruption and blackmoney," he said.
Naidu said the people expected government to give a solution to the problems confronting the nation. "This Budget is silent on blackmoney as not even one word has been said on it. The Budget failed to address two important issues - corruption and inflation - both of which are breaking the backbone of people," he said.
