Opposition savages budget, says it’s Modi government's final jumla

NEW DELHI: Most opposition parties on Friday questioned the proposals in the interim budget, presented just months before the general elections, calling it the “final jumla” of the Narendra Modi government.

Calling it the Budget an “exercise in rhetoric”, the Left parties accused the government of making false promises. “It has sought to use what is an interim budget to make promises that are not for it to make,” the CPM said in a statement. The exercise was testimony to BJP’s “fear and desperation” about what the verdict of the people might be, it said.“The Modi government has now become famous for suppressing and manipulating data and offering jumlas to people,” it said.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the interim budget has “absolutely no value” as the term of the NDA government would end soon. “Who will implement this (interim budget)? Will the new government implement this budget? Before election a vote-on-account is placed,” Banerjee said.

BSP chief Mayawati called the Budget “jumlebazi” that did not address the ground reality. She claimed economic disparities had grown during the last five years with only a handful of capitalists benefiting, instead of farmers and the poor. “Jumlebazi cannot change the destiny of the country and end long-standing problems like poverty, unemployment and inflation,” she said.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted: “Five years of inaction and now Vision 2030? The BJP should learn from magicians. Magicians are the most honest people in the World; they tell you they will fool you, and then they do it. The voodoo economics of this budget can never work because it targets votes rather than growth.”

Terming the Union Budget the “final jumla” of the Modi government, AAP chief Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: “ ....it’s interim budget too completely disappoints Delhi. Our share in central taxes remains frozen at Rs 325 crore & nothing earmarked for local bodies. Delhi continues to be on its own financially (sic).”