Addressing the media from New York after the presentation of the interim Budget, Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday, 1 February, raised questions about the work UPA did in their 10 years in powers, as he listed the achievements of the Modi government in the areas of rural housing, electricity, sanitation and road connectivity.
Earlier, interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, in an interview to ANI, said that no other government has respected farmers like the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing the country after the Interim Budget 2019 was tabled, PM Modi called it a “trailer” and said he will take the country on the path of development following the Lok Sabha elections.
As NDA ministers hailed the Budget, Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked the the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, saying giving farmers Rs 17 a day is an insult.
Goyal announced that individual taxpayers with annual income up to Rs 5 lakh will get a full tax rebate. The defence Budget has been enhanced beyond Rs 3 lakh crore.
Other Key Announcements of Piyush Goyal’s Budget Presentation:
- Rs 60,000 crore allocated to MNREGA for FY19-20
- Rs 3,000 pension monthly to unorganised sector workers after the age of 60
- Defence budget enhanced beyond Rs 3 lakh crore
- Allocation for the northeastern region proposed to be increased to Rs 58,166 crore – a 21 percent rise over the previous year
- GST collection in January 2019 has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore
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Interim Budget Will Support Consumer Spending, Economic Growth: USIBC
A top American business advocacy group on Friday, 1 February lauded the interim budget presented by Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, saying that the many positive elements in it will support consumer spending and economic growth.
Reaching out to a large electorate ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Modi government Friday announced a cash dole for small farmers, a mega pension scheme for the unorganised sector and doubled the threshold income tax exemption limit to Rs 5 lakh.
Goyal proposed an array of incentives for both middle-class and farmers, whose disenchantment was said to have cost the BJP dearly in recent assembly elections.
"We see many positive elements that will support consumer spending and economic growth, including a boost in defense and health spending as well as a renewed focus on digitisation of government processes as well as artificial intelligence," US India Business Council (USIBC) president Nisha Desai Biswal told PTI.
Watch: Arun Jaitley Addresses the Media on Interim Budget 2019 from New York
Addressing the media from New York after the presentation of the interim Budget, Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday, 1 February, raised questions about the work UPA did in their 10 years in powers, as he listed the achievements of the Modi government in the areas of rural housing, electricity, sanitation and road connectivity.
“What did the UPA do in their 10 years in power? A one-time loan waiver of 70,000 crores. Only Rs 52,000 crores were waived off and CAG report was that – out of that Rs 52,000 crore, a significant part of the money went to traders and businessmen and not to farmers.”Arun Jaitley, as quoted by ANI
On the Opposition's criticism of the direct income benefit scheme for farmers, Jaitley said they should not "shed crocodile tears today for the farmers".
"If the Opposition also has several governments, let them announce similar schemes. I am sure other governments will also consider this," he reportedly said.
Jaitley also called for cooperation between the Centre and the states for the implementation of this scheme.
"This is a huge amount that we are doing... This is Rs 75,000 crores in the first year itself. I'm sure it will expand in the future years," he added.
On the NSSO survey report controversy, Jaitley said, "That's not a report. That's a draft that has not been approved."
He pointed out that if the economy was growing at 12 percent nominal growth rate, then it would be an "absurdity" to say that such a high-level growth rate has not created jobs.
What Has Govt Done for Farmers in Debt: Punjab CM Slams Budget 2019
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh slammed the Interim Budget 2019, asking what the government has done for farmers who are in debt and the unemployed youth.
“I want to know what have they done for the problems of the farmers who are in debt about whom every minister including PM talks about. What have they done for unemployed youth? They’re our future. Government should have thought about them.”Amarinder Singh, Punjab CM
No Govt Has Respected Farmers Like PM Modi’s: Piyush Goyal
Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, in an interview to ANI, said that no other government has respected farmers like the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Responding to the row over unemployment data, Goyal said that it was a “narrative” created by certain people and that the nature of jobs has changed.
“Around 3-3.5 crore people (will be benefitted). We’ll get a final data when the final tax returns of the next year come. We have not disturbed the tax rates. We just made the change that those with an annual income less than Rs 5 Lakh will have to pay zero tax.”Piyush Goyal, Interim Finance Minister