With hardly three months left for the general elections, the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal with full of ‘promises’ ultimately turned out to be one aimed at canvassing votes for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Kerala State Financial Enterprises (KSFE) chairman Peelipose Thomas has alleged.
Mr. Thomas, representing the Left Democratic Front, was taking part in the debate on the Union and the State Budgets, organised by the Kerala Union of Working Journalists, at the Press Club Hall here on Tuesday.
He alleged that the Centre was trying to divert public attention from the ill effects of demonetisation and the steep rise in the prices of petroleum products by unbundling promises to the people on election eve.
Mr. Thomas said the Union government had presented the interim budget without publishing the economic survey.
The national sample survey showed that unemployment had gone up to 45% and this would affect the country’s economic stability and growth prospects, he alleged.
The KSFE chairman said the States like Kerala, Telangana, and Odisha had implemented the financial assistance for farmers much earlier.
Panchayats to benefit
Mr. Thomas said the State Budget was for rebuilding the flood-hit Kerala and about 15 grama panchayats in the district would benefit from the financial support scheme. The affected panchayats would get ₹5 crore each on an average and the 1% cess would in no way lead to price rise, he said.
Addressing the debate, Joseph M. Puthussery, Kerala Congress(M) general secretary, accused the Union and the State governments of destroying the very concept of the annual budget.
The Union Budget had failed to address issues such as rise in the price of petroleum products that had badly affected the common people.
The Centre’s earlier announcement that it would ensure 50% profit to the farmers too remained on paper, he alleged.
Mr. Puthusserry alleged that budget proposals were mere promises against the backdrop of the general elections.
The KC(M) leader alleged that the State Budget has been prepared without any proper homework and studies. Even the usage, ‘rebuilding the flood-hit Kerala’ too was not correct as the flood itself was the government’s contribution, he said.
BJP stance
Bharatiya Janata Party district leader Shaji R. Nair said the Union Budget presented by Mr. Goyal was a people-friendly and development-oriented one.
As many as 12 crore farmers across the country would benefit from the financial assistance scheme, he said. A whopping ₹70,000 crore had been made for the same and 90% of farmers in the State would benefit, he said.
The pension scheme for labourers in the unorganised sector would benefit the State more as 10% of the workers in this sector were from Kerala, he said.
Shiny T. Alexander, head of the department of economics at Catholicate College, was the moderator.
