Rejecting Opposition charge that Union Budget is only for the rich and corporates, colleagues of finance minister Arun Jaitley today hailed his effort as "pro-poor", helpful for states and with a potential to generate employment and fulfil infrastructure needs.
The ministers also described the general budget as a road map for reviving the economy and ushering in growth.
"It is a pro-poor, pro-farmer and a pro-unemployed youth budget," home minister Rajnath Singh said.
Highlighting the salient features of the budget, he said that schemes like Universal Social Security System and Atal Pension Yojana will go a long way in strengthening social security net.
"The budget has mapped a target of providing visa on arrival to 150 countries in stages. The MHA is well positioned to achieve this goal. Both the rail budget and Union budget have successfully captured the mood of the country. Indian economy is all set to take a giant leap," Singh said.
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said that Jaitley has done a "very well" job in the Budget.
"It is good. Comparing the amount of money that he gave to the states, he did it very well. It is an extremely good job inspite of the fact that he had to shell out almost 15-20%extra money to the states. While controlling everything he has done a good job particularly towards the poor of the society," Parrikar told reporters outside Parliament.
{{/usCountry}}"It is good. Comparing the amount of money that he gave to the states, he did it very well. It is an extremely good job inspite of the fact that he had to shell out almost 15-20%extra money to the states. While controlling everything he has done a good job particularly towards the poor of the society," Parrikar told reporters outside Parliament.
{{/usCountry}}Asked how much marks out of 10 he would like to give to the Union Budget in the rating chart, Parrikar said," 9.5 marks should be given to him."
Railway minister Suresh Prabhu said that more investments would be made in the infrastructure sector because of improved sentiments.
"The finance minister has done an amazing job of reviving growth, of improving sentiments, of making investments possible, of improving savings. This is good for the common people, average person, corporate world and the country. We will be able to make more investments in infrastructure," he stressed.