"Interim budget merely a financial web to trap people," says Himachal Pradesh CM
Feb 01, 2024
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], February 1 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Thursday that the interim budget is merely a financial web to trap people.
"The interim budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman failed to meet the expectations of the countrymen," said Sukhu.
Further hitting out at the centre over the interim budget, the Chief Minister said, "The focus of the budget is to woo the voters rather than to strengthen the economy."
Sukhu blamed the centre for ignoring the interests of Himachal Pradesh in the interim budget, adding, "Even though the state suffered huge losses due to the recent disaster, not even a single penny is allocated."
He further lashed out at the centre, saying, "There was no mention of the expansion of the rail network for the state. There is also no mention of any rapid mass transit system for hilly states like Himachal, where metro rail cannot be started."
The Chief Minister highlighted that the Center ignored the green energy sector in the interim budget.
"Though green and solar energy have been mentioned in the budget speech, there is no clear roadmap as to how the green and solar energy initiatives will be achieved," he added.
He emphasised that the interests of the common people were sidelined in the interim budget.
"No additional tax relief has been given to the middle class. The budget makes no mention of controlling inflation. The prices of LPG were already ever high and there has been no reduction in the prices of diesel and petrol to provide relief to the common people," he added.
CM Sukhu slammed the centre for keeping only the capitalists and industrialists in mind.
"There was nothing for the poor and the middle class. Only capitalists and industrialists have been kept in mind in this budget. The budget has exposed the anti-poor face of the Union government," he said.
The Chief Minister concluded that while collecting GST of around Rs. 1.8 lakh crore, no additional concession has been given in income tax and other taxes.
