BJP Hails Interim Budget 2019, Congress Calls It 'Election Manifesto'

Reaching out to a large electorate ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Narendra Modi government on Friday announced a cash dole for small farmers, a mega pension scheme for the unorganised sector and doubled the threshold tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hailed the interim budget as “historic”, Congress leaders have termed it an “election manifesto”.

BJP calls it ‘historic’

Soon after the Lok Sabha was adjourned, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the budget was “historic” and all sections of the society will benefit from it, reported ANI . 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also said that all sections of society, including farmers, middle class, poor and women, have been mentioned in the budget. This budget will help achieve the dream of ‘New India’, he added. 

BJP president Amit Shah hailed the budget for “benefiting” all sections of society and said it has proved that the Modi government is dedicated to the aspirations of the country’s youths, farmers and poor.

Shah said that the budget will spur growth, generate employment and also provide relief to the middle class, farmers and poor workers among others.

Union minister Smriti Irani called it a “holistic” budget. 

Congress terms it ‘election manifesto’

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge termed the budget as BJP’s “election manifesto” and accused the ruling dispensation of bribing voters ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Kharge said the promises made by the BJP in this budget are mere poll sops and “jumlas”, which will not be fulfilled as the BJP has a mandate to rule only till May this year.

Shashi Tharoor said that the whole exercise has turned out to be a “damp squib”.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government’s interim budget will have implications on the general elections. He told NDTV , “It’s an election budget.”

(With PTI inputs)