Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 24: The J&K Congress and National Conference have alleged that Budget has failed to address the pressing issues of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, while Laghu Udyog Bharti has hailed the budget.
JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla while reacting to the Union Budget said it has nothing substantial for the development of J&K, saying it has been meted out a raw deal in the Union Budget. “No substantial allocation has been made by the Government for the augmentation of various mega development projects.
“The vital road projects and tunnels including Z-Morh, Sadhna Top and other inter-regional routes have been ignored in the Union budget. The projects are otherwise of national importance but unfortunately the Union Budget is mute on it,” he said.
Launching scathing attack on the BJP-led government he said the Budget reflected the fiscal and political bankruptcy of this regime. He described the budget proposals as indicative of the Centre’s financial and political bankruptcy.
JKPCC general secretary T S Tony alleged that the Budget presented by the Finance Minister has failed to deal with problems of unemployment, price rise and farmer’s distress.
“The tiny sops given to the middle class are not enough to generate the kind of shift India needs to boost domestic demand. The problems of unemployment, inflation, farmer distress, viability of small and medium enterprises, and climate change — the central problems of the Indian economy — have not been addressed,” Tony asserted.
J&K National Conference called the J&K Budget 2024-25 presented in Parliament by the Union Finance Minister as a mere jumble of words that neglects to tackle the pressing issues facing the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement party chief spokesperson, Tanvir Sadiq expressed dismay at the fact that this is the sixth consecutive budget that has not been passed by the elected Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir. “Why are nearly 1.40 cr people left without a representative Assembly? An elected Assembly could have addressed the needs and aspirations of the people. Once again, stakeholders were not consulted before the budget was tabled,” he lamented.
“The budget fails to address the high unemployment rate, development deficit, and lack of infrastructure. The government has turned a blind eye to contractual employees awaiting their regularization, cut fertilizer subsidies for farmers, neglected MGNREGA allocations despite inflation and unemployment, reduced funding for higher education by 10,000 crore, and slashed LPG subsidies amidst rising prices,” he added.
Jammu and Kashmir unit of Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB) has termed the Union budget comprehensive in nature, saying its focus on employment, skilling, MSMEs and the middle class seeks to translate the vision of empowering all sections of the population.
“The nine priorities for generating ample opportunities for all, as envisaged in the budget, will ensure faster progress and social equity,” said Parveen Pargal, LUB J&K president while chairing a meeting to discuss the Union budget.
Parveen lauded the budget for its vision of empowering all sections of the population, emphasizing its focus on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He said the budget introduces a Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs in the manufacturing sector, allowing them to purchase machinery and equipment without collateral.
BJP has hailed the budget saying it will fulfil the aspirations of common masses of the country.
Talking to reporters here, today Party chief spokesperson, Sunil Sethi along with other spokespersons Abhinav Sharma, Balbir Ram Rattan and Rajni Sethi said provision of 12 thousand crore for Jammu and Kashmir Police will help in modernisation of anti terror operations, will equip police with hi tech infrastructure, also strengthen VDGs in view of the rising incidents of killings and targeting civilians and security forces.
He said Tourism sector is also going to get boost, more tourists, more business, more prosperity, signal to the outside world that J&K is as safe as any other destination to travel. The salaried and middle class will be in position of more savings with the budget provisions.
Sunil Sethi said this is a budget aimed at fulfilling aspirations of all, a budget in a direction of Sapno Ka Naya Bharat (India of new dreams).
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