The Narendra Modi government’s Interim Budget 2019, presented by the Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in the Parliament today had some big giveaways for the middle class, small farmers and the rural population.
The interim budget was revered by the ailing Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, who called it “unquestionably Pro-Growth, Fiscally prudent, Pro-Farmer, Pro-Poor”.
The Budget is unquestionably Pro-Growth, Fiscally prudent, Pro-Farmer, Pro-Poor and strengthens the purchasing power of the Indian Middle Class.
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) February 1, 2019
However, the Opposition, as expected, are not seeming very happy and are targeting the ruling government, calling the budget yet another “election jumla”.
Former Prime Minister and Congress veteran, Manmohan Singh on being asked about the big income tax gift for the middle class and farmers, was quick on critiquing the budget, calling it “an election budget”. Former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh said that the concessions provided to farmers and the middle-class will have implications on the general elections due by May.
Piyush Goyal, reading out the budget in parliament, after making a series of big announcements had said, “this is not just an Interim Budget, this is a vehicle for developmental transformation of the nation.”
The Interim Budget 2019 have some big endowments, especially for the middle class and the farmers of the country.
- Those with an annual income of up to Rs 5 lakh will not have to pay income tax.
- Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, farmers with less than 2 hectares of land will be given ₹6,000 per annum towards income support for procurement of inputs.
- A pension scheme for workers in the unorganised sector with a monthly income of up to Rs 15,000 too was announced. They will have an assured monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after they retire at 60.
- The government has decided to hike the gratuity limit from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh from the next financial year.
- Income tax refunds will be processed within 24 hours and released immediately.
Though the populace is expected to be content with the Interim Budget, which prima-facie appears to be a pro-people budget, the usual suspects are already out there making false affirmations against the Modi government.
Former finance minister with the UPA government P Chidambaram, who himself is under the scanner facing corruption and money laundering charges, trying to take claim for the pro-poor budget, slammed Goyal for “copying Congress’ declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country”.
Thank you Interim FM for copying the Congress’ declaration that the poor have the first right to the resources of the country.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 1, 2019
Well, the Congress who for all this while have been favouring ‘fair share for minorities’ and claiming that the Muslims have the first claim on the resources have swiftly shifted goals, taking credit for the pro-poor stance adopted by the BJP government, in their futile attempt to woo the public.
