Shiv Sena’s verdict on Union Budget: It’s old plans packaged in a new format

In its Marathi daily Saamana, the BJP’s ally said the government has not addressed the issue of inflation, nor offered a good deal to farmers

A day after finance minister Arun Jaitley presented the Union Budget, the Shiv Sena, a key constituent of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, took on the government by calling the budget “ordinary”.

The Sena expressed doubt over the implementation of all announcements made for the agricultural sector by finance minister Arun Jaitley in the Union Budget. (HT Photo)

In an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Friday, the party said the BJP has just packaged old plans in a new format.

Slamming the government over rising inflation, the Sena said Jaitley has made no mention of any measures to tackle inflation. “…there was no mention of the word ‘inflation’ while presenting the budget. A few years ago, the Congress [led] government was thrown out of power because of inflation. The new government had promised that it would tackle inflation, make the lives of people easier. But after destroying the economy with demonetisation, the truth is that the government has nothing to offer to the people,” the Sena said.

The editorial in the Marathi daily, seen as Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s opinion, said the BJP has realised that people living in rural areas are disgruntled. “After the warning bells in the Gujarat elections, the BJP has turned its focus towards the rural sector in the budget,” the editorial said.

The Swaminathan Commission report had recommended a minimum support price of 50% profit above the cost of production.