Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath trashes Budget 2020

Reactions to Saturdays Union Budget were on expected lines in Bhopal with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath terming it "disappointing" and "a labyrinth of data" with the Union Finance Minister selling dreams.

He said the Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had nothing for farmers, unemployed youth, the poor and women, and lacked a plan to deal with the economic slowdown and inflation.

In a series of tweets, Kamal Nath said: "The finance minister delivered a lengthy speech but as always, hollow dreams of doubling the income of farmers has been offered in the budget. Many old schemes have been revamped and reintroduced."

The budget lacks a roadmap for development and progress, as well as a plan to curb the economic slowdown and inflation, Nath said, adding that the rural population was "completely ignored".

"A reduction of Rs 11,556 crore in the share of Central taxes to the state has been done in the revised estimate. This reduction (is effectively) Rs 14,233 crore after including the previous deduction of 2,677 crore. This is against the interests of the state," Nath said in another tweet.

However, Kamal Nath's predecessor Shivraj Singh Chouhan was all praise for the Budget proposals.

"I congratulate the Finance Minister for presenting an all-inclusive and visionary budget which lays down the roadmap for achieving our goal of becoming $5 trillion economy by 2025. Our philosophy of 'antyodaya' (upliftment of the weakest) is at the core of the provisions announced in the budget," he said.

Chouhan said the proposals would provide a boost to consumption, investments and infrastructure creation, which in turn will lead to all-round development of all sectors and regions of the country.

He welcomed the reduction in personal income tax and said it would provide relief to honest taxpayers, simplify the tax regime and leave more money in the hands of the individual, which would give a boost to consumption. Chouhan also praised the budget for increasing bank deposit insurance cover from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

Higher Education Minister Jeetu Patwari said inflation and unemployment are increasing in the country. Petrol and cooking gas rates have shot up and the budget offers no solution to the issue.

The Modi government is selling the key assets of the nation to private parties.

Transport Minister Govind Singh Rajput said, "I can say with certainty that neither poverty nor inflation has come down. The Budget has done little to address the concerns."

( With inputs from IANS )