The annual budget presented by the Gujarat government in the assembly today is lacklustre and directionless, opposition Congress said.
"The BJP government has not given any relief of high rates of Value Added Tax (VAT) charged by the state which is
highest in the country," the opposition party said.
Earlier, Congress legislators staged a walkout from the assembly during the budget speech of Finance Minister
Vajubhai Vala for the Financial year 2010-2011.
Reacting on the budget, leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil said, instead of reducing high rates of VAT,
state has imposed additional tax to the tune of Rs 730 crore.
"Last year, 25 percent surcharge was introduced by the state to mobilise resources for development works. The
same should have been withdrawn this time but the government has continued it," Gohil said.
The revenue deficit of the state has further widened and reached over Rs 4,500 crore, but the government has not
initiated to improve the financial health of the state in the budget, he said.
"The state's public debt has crossed over Rs one lakh crore and even CAG has cautioned the government regarding
spiralling public debt but no corrective step has been initiated by the government in the budget," he said.