CHANDIGARH: Rejecting the Union Budget for 2021-22 as reflective of the BJP-led central government’s “total apathy” towards middle class and farmers, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said even the vital sector of defence had not been adequately addressed despite growing border threats from China and Pakistan, while health allocation was actually down.
He said the entire Budget was a “big let-down” for every section of society, except big corporates. Trashing the Centre’s claim that the health sector allotment had been increased by 35%, Amarinder said numbers had been effectively fudged to project a hike by including the Rs 35,000-crore Covid vaccine allotment. Actually, the budget was down 10%, he added.