BJP says Budget all-inclusive, Oppn alleges it ignores poor, nothing on jobs, inflation

PM Modi says it provides a strong base to fulfil the dreams of an aspirational society, including the poor and middle class, Rahul Gandhi claims it takes care only of the rich

NEW DELHI: The ruling BJP on Wednesday hailed the Union Budget as an “all-inclusive” document which reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “farsighted” leadership to make a new India, while the Opposition dismissed it as “anti-people” and mere rhetoric lacking the vision for creating jobs and taming inflation.

In her Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman raised the personal income tax rebate limit, doled out sops on small savings and announced one of the biggest hikes in capital spending in the past decade as she walked a tight rope between staying fiscally prudent and meeting public expectations.

The Budget proposals also triggered an ‘Amrit Kaal’ versus ‘Mitra Kaal’ debate between the BJP and the Opposition, with the PM saying it provides a strong base to fulfil the dreams of an aspirational society, including the poor and the middle class, and Rahul Gandhi claiming it takes care only of the rich.