The Union Budget has left a pale look on the faces of employees as the most eagerly awaited rebate in income tax remained a distant dream for them as the income tax slab was not enhanced, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said on Monday.
Reacting to the Budget, he said the fresh taxes of `20,000 crore will certainly burden the common man and lead to inflation and price rise.
The Chief Minister said that the Finance Minister presented a piece of rhetoric which would contribute to rise in prices of all essential commodities. He said that the Budget has painted a very grim picture which would be economically detrimental. “The incremental increase in certain spheres and schemes was not enough but photocopy of the already existing policies of the previous UPA Government,” he added.
Virbhadra Singh said the announcement in Budget of giving gas connection to the families living below poverty line was already in vogue in Himachal Pradesh. He said the Union Budget had nothing new but was just replicating the earlier UPA Government programmes.
However, the provision of funds under MNREGA for the rural employment was a welcome step besides the measures proposed to be taken under PMGSY would help in connecting rural habitations with roads which were yet to see the light of the day.
He said that there was just a marginal increase under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, which should have been given more emphasis. He said that initiative towards Swach Bharat Abhiyan was a welcome step.