Pro-poor, future-friendly document, says Khattar

CHANDIGARH: Hailing the Union budget as a visionary, pro-poor and future friendly budget, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said that the special focus on farming, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and social welfare sectors would in particular help improve the lives of people of Haryana.

He said that significant budgetary allocations and announcements for promotion of good governance and ease of living, including the 16-point plan for farmers, relief to taxpayers, an extension of Ayushman Bharat scheme, would have a great synergy with the ongoing and planned efforts of the state government in these areas.

Praising the Union finance minister on the announcement for selecting Rakhigarhi village in Hisar to be developed as an iconic site with on-site museum, the chief minister said that it was a matter of pride that now Rakhigarhi would be recognised internationally. Jannayak Janata Dal leader and deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala said the budget had taken constructive measures for poor, farmer and youth. He also lauded the 16-point programme for farmers.

HOODA, SELJA SAY HARYANA, ITS FARMERS IGNORED

Former chief minister and leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh

Hooda, however, held that the budget completely ignored the farm sector. Terming the budget as insipid and directionless, Hooda said that it had nothing for new rail tracks, airports, trains, universities or industries nor anything for employment.

State Congress president and Rajya Sabha member Kumari Selja said the budget had brought disappointment to the people of Haryana as well as to the country. She said the BJP government had discriminated with Haryana in this budget as if it was taking revenge from the people of Haryana as it had won only 40 seats in the assembly elections in the state. The museum for Rakhigarhi was signed during the Congress government in 2013, she said.