Madhya Pradesh budget criticised by opposition

Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Raghavji Friday presented in the state assembly a Rs.102.96 crore deficit budget for the financial year 2009-10, which the opposition termed as "anti-development".

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the budget was in line with his government's priority to make Madhya Pradesh a "golden state".

Deputy Leader of Opposition in the assembly Choudhary Rakesh Singh said the budget was anti-development.

Singh said: "The budget provides nothing much for the farmers. The government has not even bothered to allocate enough funds for the farmers welfare as per its party manifesto.

"The government should have taken steps to reduce taxes on petrol and diesel. No provision has been made to meet the shortage of power," he added.

Congress legislator Sukhdev Panse said: "The budget is anti-farmer. There is no provision for waiving off their loans."

Members of the chambers of commerce also said that there was nothing in the budget which could be said to be pro-development.

However, the chief minister defended the budget. "The budget has been made keeping in mind the development of the last man sitting in the row. Despite curtailment in the state's share by the central government, care has been taken for the promotion of various schemes meant for the welfare of farmers and women."

State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Narendra Singh Tomar said: "The government has made provision for the welfare of all including the youth, women and unemployed."

Last updated on Jul 10^th, 2009 at 22:49 pm IST--IANS