Mulayam, Maya slam 'anti-people budget'

The Union Budget not only drew the usual criticism from opposing quarters, but also failed to convince the allies. HT reports.

The Union Budget not only drew the usual criticism from opposing quarters, but also failed to convince the allies.

HT Image

Two key supporters of the government outside of the UPA - Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) - slammed the budget, perhaps with an eye on the upcoming general elections.

On the other hand, the biggest partner of the Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), welcomed the budget for its proposals on women, farmers and the under-privileged. The DMK chief, however, added that no hike in income-tax relief is disappointing.

"The budget was extremely anti-farmer, anti-labourer and anti-poor. The government is concerned about wealthy people only, not farmers who constitute 65% of the total population," said SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Although Yadav threatened to oppose the budget in the Parliament, he remained non-committal on the probability of a cut motion on it.

Echoing Yadav's views, BSP chief Mayawati said the UPA's policies were against the aam aadmi. "There is nothing new in this budget for farmers, employees and middle class."