Trinamool Congress calls interim budget ethically, morally wrong

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress today termed the Union interim budget as “ethically and morally” wrong because the UPA government, which placed the proposals in Parliament, would turn into a caretaker government once the Election Commission announced the date of Lok Sabha election.

Trinamool Congress general secretary Mukul Roy said the budget proposals submitted by P Chidambaram sounded as if they were for the next 10 years, or as if the UPA will be in power for the next 10 years.

“This budget is ethically and morally incorrect. An interim budget means a budget to bear the cost of salaries and other necessary costs of the government till a new party iselected to power,” Roy said.

The presentation of the interim budget by the UPA government sounded like whatever had been done in India since Independence, had been done only by them, which is ridiculous," Roy said here.

The interim budget proposals included hand-out of sops to the middle class ahead of the elections and a boost to manufacturing. The budget also slashed excise duty on cars andtwo-wheelers, capital goods and consumer non- durables besides the acceptance of the long-standing demand for ‘one-rank one-pension’ for ex-servicemen.

The Union Finance Minister also did not propose to make changes in the tax laws except to continue the 10 percent income tax surcharge on ‘super-rich’ individuals and up tofive per cent on corporates.

PTI