Bhubaneswar, Feb 28 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday slammed the union budget, saying it disappointed and neglected his state.
"As regards Odisha, I am deeply disappointed both with the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission and the union budget," he said.
Patnaik said that while the budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley indicates a focus on rapid development of eastern states and special assistance for Bihar and West Bengal, Odisha was completed neglected.
"Our state faced two of the worst calamities in the last two years consecutively in the form of Phailin and Hudhud. At least on these scores, Odisha deserves special focus. I am shocked that this fact has been completely overlooked in the union budget despite our repeated demands," he said.
Patnaik said the share of Odisha in tax devolution from 4.78 percent to 4.6 percent will involve a loss of about Rs.4,600 crore over a period of five years.
"Our fiscal discipline has been much better than most of the other states and now we are being penalised because of our good performance in fiscal discipline and population stabilisation initiatives," he said.
Even though there has been focus on irrigation and agriculture in the budget, the allocation towards crucial sectors was abysmally low, he said.
Odisha Congress president Prasad Harichandan said the budget had nothing for Odisha.
"The budget is against the interest of people and the state. There is no special allocation for the state while other states were given special preference," he said.
Odisha BJP president K.V. Singhdeo, however, said the budget was an innovative pro-poor, development oriented, growth driven with special emphasis on women, children, youth and senior citizens.
"This budget brings in a paradigm shift introducing the idea of social security with rebates, concessions and allocations in insurance, pensions, ICDS etc. Public spending on infrastructure has been increased. The tax reforms leave the consumer with more disposable income thus incentivizing him to spend," said Singhdeo.
Modi's religious beliefs helped shape his political views
New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's religious beliefs helped shape his political views and he has no desire to jettison Hindu nationalist ideology, says a new book and notes
A committee will be formed to resolve the Karnataka-Maharashtra border dispute, not on the road but according to the constitution: Amit Shah
A committee of three ministers each from both states will be formed to resolve the border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra. The decision was taken in a meeting with the Chief Ministers of
Uncontrollable: Mumbai becomes hotspot, 98 percent ICU full, hospitals running in five-star hotels
The corona epidemic is wreaking havoc in Maharashtra. Maharashtra remains the most affected state of Corona in the country. People here are disoriented and disturbed. In the last 24 hours, 58
Modi who took cricket from million to billion: kept Vijay Mallya's daughter as a personal assistant, used a private jet as a taxi
By the beginning of the 21st century, cricket had become a multi-million dollar sport. The next challenge was to get into the billion-dollar club, but the journey from 1 million to 1 billion is a
Several fake IDs and bombs found in the Vikas Dubey's house; Wireless control room was built in the house to contact the operatives
Kanpur. Four days have passed since the encounter between gangster Vikas Dubey and police in Bikaru village of Kanpur. There is no clue on the fifth day of development. On that, two and a half lakh
Masrat released without consent of central government: Modi
New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader Masrat Alam was released without taking the central government into confidence.Making
IMF stopped Pakistan's debt: did not accept the condition of increasing the fuel price, needed help to get out of the economic crisis
The people of Pakistan, who are suffering from the economic crisis, are facing inflation along with a shortage of food items. He is not getting the necessary help from anywhere. Foreign exchange
Elections 2023: Announcement of election dates possible in five states, know the political equations here and the condition of the last elections.
The Election Commission will hold a press conference today i.e. Monday at noon. In this, elections to be held in five states can be announced. It is noteworthy that by the end of this year, elections
Weather Update: Under the shadow of Red and Orange Alert, there is a possibility of heavy rain in many states of the country, Delhi and other states
Monsoon is raining in most of the states of the country. Given the heavy rains, the Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued an alert regarding many states. IMD senior scientist RK Jenamani
Pakistani security forces killed 25 out of 35 terrorists, two commandos also died
Pakistan's security forces killed 25 out of 35 Islamist terrorists hiding in an anti-terrorist center in the northwestern city of Bannu. Let us tell you that a group of officers was taken hostage by