Bengaluru: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget yesterday said the central government followed 12th century social reformer Lord Basveshwara’s teachings, especially the principles of Kayaka and Dasoha.
Taking a dig at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s first Union Budget, Karnataka’s Congress Legislative party chief Siddaramai said Basaveshwara references made by the Union Minister will not create jobs. He further stated, “Everything under the sun, but nothing to catch it.” It is to be noted that Nirmala is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka.
The Budget neglected issues of farmers and the country that was facing crisis without rain and fair price for produce and of unemployment among youth, said Siddaramaiah. He further alleged the Centre was deaf toward farmers’ loan waiver demand and slammed the hike in tax on petrol and diesel. He claimed this move would impact common man as prices of various commodities and freight charges would also increase.
Chief Minister Kumaraswamy, who is on a tour in the US, tweeted, “I expected more from Smt.@nsitharaman who represents Karnataka, for railways, especially suburban railways, but very disappointed as no projects/aid were announced. In the Indian Context budget is not a mere statement of intent.” He further tweeted while some initiatives such as creation of FPOs and strengthening e-NAM and promoting traditional industries are welcome ones, more morale boosting programmes were desirable for the farming sector.
He said the budget has given a big blow to the states economy by reducing GST state share. “For Karnataka, it will be cut down by around Rs 1,600 crore. The cess hike on fuel will also reduce scope for states to levy cess. Moreover fuel price hike will hit everyone directly and indirectly as well, he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said the budget has no coherent plan to fix the broken economy. “#Budget2019 has no significant initiatives on agriculture, farmers, tackling drought, infrastructure, water, railways, jobs, etc. No respite for middle class tax payers. There is no coherent plan to fix the broken economy, leave alone making it a 5 trillion dollar one,” read his tweet.
However, State BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman by saying that the budget as development oriented. He said the most striking feature of the budget was the decision to take up various structural and financial changes in the economy to boost infrastructure, investment and other facilities without burdening the people.
Yeddyurappa also expressed happiness about the budget being inspired by Basavanna, who in the 12th century itself had propagated the Kayaka and dashoa philosophy, “which is nothing but a equality based society or prime minister’s slogan of Sabka Saath Sab Ka Vishwas.”