BUDGET SOPS FOR POLL-BOUND STATES, OPPOSITION CALLS IT ‘MANIFESTO’

With the Union Budget announcing major infrastructure projects, especially in poll-bound states of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala and Assam, the Opposition called it an “election manifesto” and accused the Centre of ignoring the rest of the country.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed new highways projects of 3,500 km in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 1.03 lakh crore, 1,100 km of highways in Kerala at an investment of Rs 65,000 crore. In West Bengal, she proposed 675 km of highways works at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore and over 1,300 km of highways in Assam at Rs 34,000 crore.

Assam Congress chief, Ripun Bora tweeted, “So, the BJP government has made Parliament the place to launch election manifestos for Assembly elections. This Budget is nothing more than an election manifesto full of ‘jumlas’!”

Congress Lok Sabha MP from Ernakulam in Kerala, Hibi Eden told news agency IANS that the whole Budget exercise was turned into an “election drama” by announcing major infra projects in poll-bound states while ignoring the rest of the country. “All the infrastructure projects are announced to reap political benefits in Assembly polls in four states to be held in coming two or three months,” Eden said.

Budgetary announcements were made for Kochi Metro rail phase II and Chennai Metro rail phase II. Eden alleged that funds for phase II of Kochi Metro announced by UPA government were stalled and made part of Budget of 2021-22. “People are expecting announcement of phase-III of Kochi Metro rail but the BJP government announced budgetary provisions for phase-II,” Eden added.

Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien said that India’s first paperless Budget is also a 100 per cent “visionless” Budget. Referring to 675-km highway work in West Bengal, Brien further tweeted, “What Bengal did yesterday, Centre only talks today, Budget ‘21 promise – 625 km roads in WB, WB government (2018) – new roads of 5,111 km, No one in India. Plus 1,165 km roads in 2019.”

Talking about promotion of seaweed farming, Sitharaman announced setting up of a multi-purpose seaweed park in Tamil Nadu. DMK Lok Sabha MP from Namakkal in Tamil Nadu, A.K.P Chinraj told the IANS that these Budget proposals are just an announcement and in reality there is nothing on the ground to execute these projects.

“Announcements are made with an eye on upcoming Assembly polls including Tamil Nadu to grab power in these states. They will forget all the Budget proposals once the Assembly polls get over,” Chinraj added.