NEW DELHI: The Budget came in for sharp criticism in Parliament from Opposition members who said the new government had not been able to control prices as the NDA had promised during its election campaign.
As the debate on the Budget resumed on Thursday, SP chief Mulayam Singh said “these were not the acche din” promised by the BJP as prices continued to rise.
“Those who had come to power promising that they will bring down prices of essential items by at least 25 per cent have failed to keep the promise as the prices have been rising since the Narendra Modi government took office,” SP chief Mulayam said.
Mulayam even went on to say that armed forces were not getting sufficient funds to stay fighting- fit.
He further alleged that though the ruling party always talked about bringing back black money, it had targeted only “small-time shopkeepers”, but not the big guns.
Congress MP K V Thomas defended the previous government, saying that everything from road building to computers to space programme was introduced by Congress Prime Ministers such as Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
Sounding a conciliatory note, he said Congress was prepared to work with the government on key issues.
The JD(S)’ H D Deve Gowda asked the government to exercise caution while opening up certain sectors to foreign investors. He praised Modi, saying that he had shown magnanimity when he said his government wouldn’t be vindictive.
TMC MP Saugata Bose said the allocation for infrastructure was best in the present fiscal situation but expressed disappointment over the low allocation to health and education.
RJD member Pappu Yadav attacked the government, saying Modi had promised special category status to Bihar, but done nothing on the front.