SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today termed the Union Budget for 2015-16 as "disappointing and disheartening", which belied the hopes and aspirations of the common man.
"It is the budget of mere promises and commitments in which interests of the common man had been completely ignored and tax burden of Rs 22,000 crore has been put on the people while the corporate houses have been given tax benefits to the tune of Rs 8,000 crore," Singh said.
He said that the hike in service tax from 12.36 to 14 per cent will lead to increase in prices of several commodities and services, directly affecting the common man, he said, adding raising the education cess would hit the common man.
The fixed income (salaried) employees were hoping for increase in income tax exemption limit but no relief has been given and on the contrary service tax has been increased, the chief minister said.
"The budget, full of hollow promises, is neither populist nor growth oriented and would fails to create an impact on the masses," he said.
Singh said it would have been better to include Tabo Monastery or some other ancient monument in Himachal Pradesh in the world heritage site or funds should have been given to improve the existing archeological sites.
There was also no mention of any scheme or programme to give boost to tourism activities in the state. He said the government was proposing huge cut in the centrally sponsored schemes and the actual impact on Himachal Pradesh would be known when the full budget documents were perused.
The Chief Minister, however, welcomed the announcement of All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) and keeping the budgetary provision under MNREGS as was before.