Bhubaneswar, Feb 28 (IANS) The general budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has failed to address the core concerns of the people and will hurt households, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said Monday.
‘The union budget proposals for 2011-12 hardly offers any respite to our common masses from the soaring food prices,’ Patnaik told reporters.
‘On the contrary, the union finance minister has proposed to bring 130 items, now enjoying exemption under the central excise, under the tax net. Besides, he has chosen to raise base rate of excise duty from 4 to 5 per cent.
‘These are regressive measures which will hurt household budgets,’ he said.
Patnaik also criticised the budget for not offering any special outlays for less developed states like Orissa.
‘My biggest disappointment is that no relief package has been provided to our farmers who have suffered huge losses on account of the unseasonal rains in December 2010’, he said.
