Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee deserves praise for presenting a pragmatic budget fulfilling the needs of all sections. This will certainly fuel economic growth. The salaried class will breathe easy, thanks to the salutary tax relief, though senior citizens have nothing to cheer.
P.K. Varadarajan,
Chennai
It is surprising that the Finance Minister has failed to arrest the inflationary trend in the 2010-11 budget. There are no schemes that will directly help the poor. Sops for taxpayers and the reduction of the surcharge on corporate tax will help generate higher income for individual assessees and corporate assessees while the increase in the prices of fuel will lead to a further increase in the prices of essential commodities. This will place an additional burden on people below the poverty line.
R. Madhavan,
Chennai
The BJP-led Opposition walkout even as Mr. Mukherjee was reading his budget speech was indeed unprecedented and showed how frustrated the Opposition parties were. Parliament is meant for conducting debates and discussions. The Opposition should have come prepared to make constructive suggestions.
Mukhtar Ahmad,
Aligarh
There is nothing in the Union budget for the middle class families, which were expecting some respite. The hike in petroleum prices and no change in tax for the lower income group come as a disappointment. It was also for the first time in the history of Parliament that the entire Opposition walked out to protest the increase in the prices of petrol, saying it will adversely affect the common man.
Ratan Sharga,
Lucknow
