Justin D’Silva

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)

Udupi, Feb 1: BJP district president Suresh Nayak called the Union Budget 2021-2022 that was presented earlier today by union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman as the best budget. "It has given priority to basic necessities and the health sector while trying to make the country self-reliant. The budget has stressed on the creation of job opportunities and multiplying of the income of farmers. It will be the beginning of a prosperous India," he said.

Balakrishna Shetty, secretary of CPI(M) district committee described the budget as anti-people. "Commodities will get expensive and public enterprises will be sold to private players," he said.

"The budget tabled by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is disastrous for the people. It will increase the prices of already expensive petrol and diesel by Rs 2.30 and Rs 4.00. Besides, the prices of vehicle spare parts and pulses will rise further. Further, the banks and insurance companies will be handed over to private companies," Shetty added.

"The BJP at the centre has meted injustice by announcing projects worth Rs 25,000 crore in West Bengal as there are no indications of it winning in other states. On the whole, the budget is not only anti-people but has been drafted favouring Ambani and Adani," opined Udupi CPI(M)Udupi district committee. The committee maintained that there will be protests in the district in February condemning the budget, farms bills and rising prices.

Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, president of Udupi district Congress committee said that the budget has ignored Karnataka and is aimless. "No funds are allotted for basic facilities. Privatization is being stressed. It has failed to revive small scale industries. There are no new schemes for farmers. More funds are allotted to states where elections are approaching. The unemployment issue will worsen as there is no stress on the production sector. Ordinary people will suffer from the cess on petrol and diesel. There are no schemes for people who are in distress due to Covid-19," he said.