Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday presented the national budget for this fiscal and proposed to hike the tax exemption limit by Rs 50,000 for all individuals.
Jaitley expressed concerns over economic slowdown while promising bold corrective measures to unburden the poor from rising prices, revive investor confidence and cut excessive expenditure.
"Steps I unveil in the budget aim at 7-8 percent growth over the next three-four years, lower inflation, less fiscal deficit and a manageable current account deficit," Jaitley said in what was the maiden budget for himself and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
Here are the reactions:
Congress president Sonia Gandhi
Gandhi said the Budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley copied most of the UPA schemes. There is nothing new, they have merely continued our schemes, added Gandhi.
Senior BJP leader LK Advani
Advani described the Budget presented by Arun Jaitley as the best Budget ever. It is the first time I have ever heard such a comprehensive budget speech, added Advani.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh
In a clear move to achieve fiscal consolidation and economic recovery, the Union Budget has made many concrete announcements, said Rajnath Singh.
Environment and Forest Minister Prakash Javdekar
Budget 2014-15 is the master document for the bright future, tweeted Javdekar. Every state and every sector is benefited, added Javdekar.
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu
The Budget will improve health and wealth of the nation. It is aimed at operational revival of nation’s economy, added Naidu.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh
Congratulations to Arun Jaitley on presenting the first budget of the NDA government. It shows government's vision for a developed and skilled India, said Singh.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
Terming the Union Budget as 'visionless, missionless and actionless', West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dubbed the Narendra Modi regime as a 'government of the FDI, by the FDI and for the FDI'.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge
The Congress leader in the Lok Sabha said the Budget did not give anything to the common man. It's for industrialists, added Kharge.
Rajya Sabha member Abhishek Manu Singhvi
The Congress spokesperson said his party and the nation expected much more. What is new in the Budget? What is the new vision? There is no vital information? Much ado about nothing.
BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
It is a perfect and practical budget for the nation. It will lead the country on the path of development, says Naqvi.
Congress leader Rajiv Shukla
Shukla said the Budget won't benefit the common man.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik
All proposals made in the Budget already existed and were just presented in a new way. The Budget will only benefit Adani and Ambani, not the common man, said Malik.
Congress Party leader Manish Tewari
The Budget is high on rhetoric, short on delivery, said Tewari.
