June 21, 2018: The State unit of Congress Party termed the State Budget as ‘Anti-people’ and ‘Hollow’. The Budget utterly failed to address burning issues like price rise and unemployment. Speaking to media, veteran Congress leader and ex-CLP leader Gopal Roy lashed out and came down heavily on the BJP-led Government’s maiden budget. Criticising the Budget, Gopal Roy alleged, BJP-led Govt had copied and pasted previous LF Government Budget.
He said, proposals to hike Road tax and levy cess on petro-goods will cause further price rise and put pressure on middle-class and poorer sections of the society. He said, “The country is experiencing high prices owing to petrol and diesel price hike by central government. In such a situation, Jishnu Dev Varman has proposed cess on petrol, diesel and PNG – this move along with higher road tax will set the commodity prices in State market skyrocketing”, Roy commented.
Pointing out to ‘silence’ on creating job opportunities, Roy alleged, the Budget has generated frustration among the youths of the State. “The budget is an anti-people and hollow budget”, he opined and added, budget has frustrated all section of the society due to its failure to clearly address unemployment issue and provice relief to common people by bring down prices of essentials.
It is noticeable that while the principal Opposition – CPM is making guarded comments on the Budget, the Congress State Unit has come out with all blazing guns. Spearheading the tirade against the Budget, Gopal Roy also said, BJP promised to raise MNREGA wages and social pensions – however, the budget did not make sufficient allocations for these purposes. He alleged that BJP-IPFT government betrayed the people of the state by not making provisions in Budget for increasing wages and pension allowances as promised.
He also criticised the budget for ‘inadequate’ fund allocations for ‘Smart City’ and implementation of recommendations of 7th CPC for State Govt employees. He alleged, Budget has proposed to slash down allocation for TTAADC which will impair development and affect tribal people. Referring to recent flood in Unakoti and other parts of the State, Gopal Roy alleged, government arrangements and assistance for flood victims are ‘inadequate’. He said, “Cong will meet the SDM tomorrow and hold gherao agitation demanding adequate and prompt distribution of relief materials and assistance”.
