Udupi Congress terms budget ‘election oriented’, BJP rates it ‘the best’

Udupi, Feb 1: The Union budget 2023 has received mixed reactions from the people and the people’s representatives of the Udupi district. The ruling BJP has claimed the budget as ‘people-friendly’, while the opposition Congress has termed the union budget as an ‘election-oriented budget’.
BJP Udupi district president Kuilady Suresh Naik said the budget presented by union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman this time is youth-friendly, farmer-friendly and a green budget with seven formulas.
Naik said, “A well-foreseen plan to allocate Rs 5,300 crore for the Bhadra Upper Bank Project in Karnataka has been given. Although there is a looming recession worldwide, a bold decision has been taken to boost the country’s economy. The ‘credit guarantee’ scheme, Rs10 lac loan scheme for small entrepreneurs announced in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic has been continued.”
He said, “In addition, the ‘Shri Anna Yojana’ which provides for free ration to the poor announced under the National Food Security Act has been continued. As part of the scheme, small entrepreneurs have been encouraged to set up skill development centers in 30 states along with the announcement of 50 new airports.”
“’Vishwakarma Skill Development’ scheme has been announced for artisans. A major step has been taken in replacing old government vehicles under the scrap policy besides giving more incentives to electric vehicles. A ‘Mahila Samman’ scheme has been implemented for women entrepreneurs. The much-awaited exemption in income tax has been announced for the middle classes,” Naik said. Kuilady said that this is the best budget which has strengthened the country’s economy and has given more incentives to the common people, farmers, industry, youth and women, with more emphasis on infrastructure development.
Udupi district Congress has termed the budget as an ‘election budget’. In a press statement issued by district Congress it has said that “80% of the GDP is used for loan repayment. This shows the economic downfall of the government. Interest rate on the loan has been raised and no plans are chalked out for this. Government has not provided more grants for Karnataka. GST has not been reduced which will adversely affect the citizens. A sum of Rs 10 lac crore has been allotted for job creation but no proper plans have been made in relation to execution of the same,” the statement said.
Kota Srinivas Poojary, minister for backward classes has said, “Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented the budget for the common man. This is a budget for the poor, the weak, the helpless and the affected. Artisans, farmers and people from the lower end of the society will also get the benefit of the budget. It is a far-reaching budget. Karnataka and the country have welcomed this budget with open arms.”
Minister for Energy, Kannada and Culture Sunil Kumar said this is a balanced budget for development with welfare. The central government has formulated a budget keeping in mind the priority of the middle-classes.In the Amrut season of Independence Amrut Mahotsava, seven priority sectors have been considered as ‘Saptarshi’ and a plan has been formulated in the Union Budget, he said. “The green energy sector has been identified as a priority sector and a production target of 5 mmt of green hydrogen by 2030 has been set at a cost of Rs 35,000 crore, increasing the responsibility on the states. Above all, the capital investment limit has been increased to Rs 10 lac crore, which is 3.3 per cent of GDP,” Sunil Kumar said, adding that this is an example of India’s changed economic status internationally.