Budget failed to push reforms: Chidambaram

Former FM says budget shunned reforms; silent on pushing demand and creating jobs

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday criticised the Union Budget for 2017-18, and said the government failed to push through bold reforms.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the Budget in Parliament on Wednesday. Chidambaram also said the government had done nothing to revive aggregate demand and growth and devise new strategies to create job.

The former FM said going through the 37-page Budget speech of finance minister Arun Jaitley and the 21-page appendices was a painful duty but he presented a point-by-point counter to the proposals.

“Demonetisation and its inevitable consequences has demoralised the government,” said Chidambaram.

There was