Terming the Union budget 2019-20 presented by Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman as directionless, retrogressive, anti development and the one which would increase the burden on common man, the president of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) of Uttarakhand Pritam Singh has said that the budget document reveals total lack of financial management. Giving his reaction on the budget, Singh said that the union government’s stubbornness is reflected in the budget and it would hit the economic growth of the country. He said that the budget is full of only announcements and rhetoric and in it the finance minister has retorted to data jugglery. Claiming that the budgetary provisions would induce price rise, reduce employment opportunities and would ensure that the growth rate not touch double digit figure. The PCC President attacked the finance minister for announcing a slew of schemes but not caring to mention about the money for these schemes. Launching into a scathing attack on the government for making no effort to control spiralling price rise in the budget, the Congress leader said that instead of controlling prices the government has imposed an additional cess of Rs 1 on diesel and petrol which would give fillip to price rise. He added that the budget has nothing in it for the farmers, poor and common man and the youths have been neglected totally. Terming demonetisation and imposition of GST responsible for loss of six Crore jobs in industrial, agriculture and real estate sectors , Singh said that no effort has been made in budget to alleviate these sectors. He said that finance minister has said about doubling the income of farmers in her budget speech but has made no provision for it. Similarly no new provision has been made to create new employment opportunities and the government has maintained a silence on reemployment for those who have lost their jobs, he said.
The congress leader slammed the government for allowing 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in insurance sector and reminded that during the UPA regime, BJP vehemently protested against allowing FDI in insurance sector. He said that the budget would provide benefit to the capitalists. Singh added that income tax slabs have remained unchanged due to which employees who were expecting some relief have been left high and dry. The Congress leader said that employment generation and women empowerment are only part of rhetoric of Modi government and in practice no provision in budget has been made for them. He said that the budget has only tried to mislead the distressed farmers who are forced to commit suicides.