Congress leaders pitch for a ‘please all’ Budget 2012 in pre-budget meeting

24 Feb 2012 Evaluate

With elections approaching closer, Congress leaders have pitched for a ‘please all’ budget. Congress leaders in their pre budget meeting with the Finance Minister have asked him to raise income tax slabs, reduce interest rates and earmark more funds for poverty alleviation programmes. Some ministers have also expressed concerns over the economic slowdown and have asked the FM to announce steps to boost growth.

Ministers also demanded that priority be given to industrial growth and the banking sector. It was also suggested that interest rates be reduced to encourage industrial growth. Some members urged Mukherjee to raise income tax exemption limit to provide relief to the salaried class. At present, income tax is levied on income above Rs 1.8 lakh per annum. The ministers also recommended that the budget focus on poverty alleviation programmes by raising allocation for schemes like MNREGA, National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) and Bharat Nirman.

Finance Minister gave a patient hearing to party leaders’ wishlist for the coming Budget, which appeared to be largely a mere repetition. Mukherjee, who is scheduled to present the Budget on March 16 in Parliament, at the outset explained them the current economic situation in India in the context of the world scenario and financial constraints being faced by the government. He also drove home the importance of maintaining the growth rate, emphasizing that it was necessary for social sector spending and to generate employment.

The senior leaders who attended the meeting included Ahmad Patel, political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Corporate Affairs Minister Veerappa Moily, AICC media cell Chairman Janardan Dwivedi, Members of Parliament (MPs) Sanjay Nirupam and Girija Vyas, CWC member Shakeel Ahmed and Minority Affairs Department Chairperson Imran Kidwai. Only about 40 leaders turned up for the meeting although invitations had been sent to all party MPs and office-bearers.

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