NC-Cong leaders claim all sectors touched in just manner
Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, Mar 7: Jammu and Kashmir’s budget presented in the Legislative Assembly today evoked mixed reactions from the political leaders, with the opposition slamming it as a “repackaging of the Central Government Schemes” while alliance partners Congress and National Conference hailing it as “pro-people budget” that touched every sector in a just manner.
Click here to watch video
PDP legislative leader and MLA Pulwama, Waheed Ur Rehman Parra criticized the budget for failing to address the pressing issues of Jammu and Kashmir.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
He said it was primarily focused on Central Government Schemes with little consideration for the people’s demands and anxieties.
“There has been no mention of rising unemployment or the plight of daily wagers,” he noted.
Parra also found the provision of 200 units of free electricity to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families inadequate, especially with the condition that only those with costly solar panels installed on their rooftops under a Central Scheme would benefit.
“This is embarrassing and restrictive,” he remarked.
He said it lacked focus on critical sectors like agriculture, youth employment, and social welfare.
“This budget is a U-turn from election promises. It merely repackages old schemes without a vision for the future,” Parra stated.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader GA Mir took a contrasting stance, calling the budget a foundation for several good initiatives.
He lauded it as positive and pro-poor, addressing unemployment and other key challenges.
Mir emphasized the budget’s significance, given the unfavourable circumstances under which it was presented.
“J&K has been downgraded to a Union Territory, yet the Chief Minister has managed to present a balanced budget, which is praiseworthy,” he said.
Senior Congress leader and PCC president Tariq Hamid Karra also supported the budget, calling it broadly “pro-people”.
He noted that almost all social sectors had been covered and hailed the Chief Minister’s assurance to fill existing gaps.
He particularly appreciated the increase in ration quotas for poor families, marriage assistance, and provisions for women.
Former Chief Minister and NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah welcomed the budget, stating that every sector and region had been justly addressed.
“Be it women empowerment, tourism, education, health or BPL families, this budget ensures that no sector is left behind,” he said, while speaking with reporters.
The lone Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Mehraj Malik criticized the budget for lacking provisions for the middle-class and Government employees.
However, he acknowledged the positive steps like the increase in the monthly pension for elderly persons, enhanced marriage assistance, and expanded ration allocation for BPL families.
He also urged the Government to extend free electricity benefits to all BPL families.
Peoples’ Conference (PC) chief Sajad Lone dismissed the budget as a disappointment, calling it a mere repetition of Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
“The budget speech followed the same old pattern of parroting Hindi-named schemes,” he remarked.
Lone highlighted inconsistencies in the Government’s economic claims, accusing it of endorsing statistics it previously criticized.
“The ruling party’s ‘Naya Kashmir’ narrative has been glorified, despite the fact that the same statistics were called manipulated until recently,” he said.
He also questioned the free electricity provision, noting its multiple conditions.
“Even the 200 units of free power for AAY beneficiaries are linked to the Centrally Sponsored Rooftop Scheme, which requires a 65% Central share with a 3 kW cap-too many strings attached,” he stated.
Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma launched a scathing attack on the Omar Abdullah-led Government, calling the budget an exercise in “jumlabaazi.”
He accused the Government of failing to fulfil its election promises, such as providing 200 units of free electricity to all, free LPG cylinders, and universal ration benefits.
Sharma alleged that only 1.5-2% of AAY families were assured free electricity, contradicting the Government’s earlier commitments.
He also criticized Omar Abdullah for taking credit for Central Government schemes like PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, RDSS, AIIMS, IITs, GMCs, Smart City, PM Surya Yojana, AMRUT, and others.
Sharma further pointed out the lack of provisions for daily wagers, vocational trainers, Rehbar-e-Khel, Rehbar-e-Janglat, Rehbar-e-Taleem employees, SCs, STs, and OBCs.
“The budget also fails to address issues like amnesty for electricity consumers receiving inflated bills and pending payments for contractors,” he noted.
The post Repackaging of Central Govt Schemes: Oppn on budget appeared first on Daily Excelsior.