Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Union Government for producing what she called an “anti-people, anti-poor and opportunistic Budget” which was anything but futuristic.
“Today the Government claims to have placed a Budget which is anything but a budgetary exercise because I could have done that in half-an-hours time,” Banerjee said adding “this Budget is anti-people, anti-poor, and full of lies and bluff.”
Dismissing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claims that it was a “historic” Budget and alleging that it was a vote-oriented exercise Banerjee said, “they are claiming that it is historic and futuristic … but I say it is not … it is not futuristic but an opportunistic Budget which instead of showing light brings darkness.”
Though she would not name Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman the Chief Minister said “they have said nothing about unemployment issues and rising prices … there are 3.7 crore jobless people in the country and not a word has been spent on that … nothing has been said about ways to contain inflation … whereas they have tried to entice a section of people keeping the upcoming elections in mind … the suffering of the common man will only continue.”
Attacking the Union Government for “pursuing the policy of divestment,” Banerjee said “they are selling out everything … all the public sector units are being sold out and not a word has been spared on that … We expected a holistic Budget and not the kind they have imposed on the people of the country.”
Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya too attacked the Centre for placing a Budget aimed at the poll-bound States only. “This is an election oriented Budget which has nothing for the common man … they are not releasing the funds which are due to us and are claiming that they have placed a historic Budget … where is the reference of the funds belonging to our State that they have held up,” she said.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh too attacked the Centre for introducing a “disguised Budget.” He said this is a Budget which “can be compared to demon king Ravana who came in the disguise of a Sadhu and then abducted Mother Sita.”