Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Feb, 01
After the FM on Monday presented the Union Budget for 2021-22, Former Minister J&K Yogesh Sawhney, General Secretary JKPCC & Incharge District President Jammu (U) criticized the budget for being ‘directionless and incompetent’.
Highlighting that the budget completely ‘missed the point’, he said that the finance minister conveniently failed to address key issues that India is currently facing including the farmers’ problems, the economic turmoil, unemployment and directed all attention to the pandemic as the cause of all miseries, which is not true.
The economy has been in a bad situation even before the pandemic hit and will continue to deteriorate unless the government strictly focusses on revival measures, which it did not in the budget, Sawhney added.
Sawhney also condemned the Centre’s privatisation drive to sell off government stakes in PSUs. He said that while the BJP is painting a wrong picture of the situation of PSUs in India, experts say that the number of loss-making public-sector companies are lesser than those that are making a profit.
The sale of a stake in these public sector companies may generate over ? One lakh crore for the Modi government. This whole drive of privatisation is to create a monopoly for certain business groups.
Also, another important question to ask about this budget is Does it address the rich-poor divide? Weaker sections needed revival and job creation measures to give a boost to the economy, but that did not happen, said Sawhney.
A study states that India’s 100 billionaires saw their wealth rise by an astronomical Rs 13 lakh Crore last year, enough to give the poorest one per cent almost a lakh of Rupees each. But this budget offers no direct incentives and encouragements for either the common man or the poor.
Commenting on the Centre, Sawhney said that an eyewash budget has been presented because it has been proved time and again that this government’s words don’t always change to actions.
There is a wide gap between their theory and practice and implementation of these ambitious policies are a far cry from what will ultimately happen. By turning a blind eye towards the real problems, they won’t go away, said Sawhney. He further added that the FM very cleverly mentioned the names of states where elections are upcoming to garner support.
Further criticizing the Centre, Sawhney said that the budget also failed to address the farm issues which should have been a priority for the government. They could not increase farmers’ income, offer opportunities for development or waiver loans. The budget failed on accounts of addressing their concerns. The working class, the poor, the farmers’ and the unemployed youth will remain unaffected, he added.
