The Opposition parties in Assam on Wednesday said the budget, presented by finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for 2018-19 in the Assembly, was aimed at the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi described the budget as an “election jumla” which talks big, but misses vital issues like rehabilitation of flood-hit and erosion-affected people besides employment generation.
Regarding the government’s announcement to distribute rice under the National Food Security Act free of cost among tea garden workers and at Rs 1 a kg among poor villagers, Gogoi said the BJP-led government was trying to create a division between the garden workers and poor villagers.
“People not only want promises in a budget. They want implementation of these promises. It did not happen in case of the past budgets presented by this government,” Gogoi said.
Congress MLA Abdul Khaleque said the budget was silent about the source of revenue collection to implement the schemes.
He added the budget did not offer any financial assistance to Moinbori xatra in Barpeta district which was shifted to other place because of erosion — a subject that was talked a lot by Sarma recently.
AGP president Atul Bora said the budget was election oriented. “Although it has covered certain communities, it misses the aspect of overall economic development. Moreover, there are no provisions on settlement of people affected by floods and erosions besides giving jobs to the youths,” he said.
AIUDF legislator Mamun Imdadul Haque Chawdhury said: “The budget talks about implementation of most of the schemes from March 1. But the financial year ends on March 31. The schemes should be implemented from April 1. The Lok Sabha election is due in April. That is why the government is talking about implementing the schemes announced in the budget from March.”
According to state BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass, it was the “best budget” ever.
“This is the best budget ever. It is an inclusive budget that reflects aspirations of the indigenous communities of the state. The Opposition parties are surprised to see such a budget. This is not an election-oriented budget,” he said.
Atul Bora in Guwahati on Wednesday. (UB Photos)
