Y S Rana, Shimla- Feb 28 :Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister said that the Union budget presented by the Finance Minister in the Parliament on Monday, was anti-poor, anti-common man and anti-growth. He said that nothing has been done to give relief to the common-man from rising prices.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that Union Finance Minister has also discriminated with the women folk by not giving any relief in income tax limit whereas for others it has been raised the maximum limit from Rs. 1.60 lac to Rs. 1.80 lac. He said that the relief to other direct tax payer was also very meagre, especially if one compared with the increasing inflation.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that Centre Government has discriminated against Himachal Pradesh once again by not giving assistance for any of the educational or other institutions in the State whereas other States had been provided benefits in one way or the other.
Chief Minister said that no mention had been made about the extension of the industrial package for which he personally had been requesting time and again the Central Government which would definitely hamper the growth of industries in the State. He said that the Union budget has provided a special package of Rs. 8000 crore (eight thousand crore) for J&K, but forgotten Himachal Pradesh as the Pradesh is also a special category State. This clearly shows the prejudice against Himachal Pradesh, he added.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that some relief given in the agriculture sector was also jugglery of figures as this would not give any benefit to the farmers immediately.
However, the increase in remuneration of Anganwari workers and Sahayaks is welcomed. EOM