Double betrayal, says Oppn while BJP terms budget as visionary, empowering

THE Opposition BJD and Congress lashed out at the Centre for ignoring Odisha in the Union Budget even as the ruling BJP hailed it as a historic move to empower the people, middle-class and accelerate the economic growth of the country.

- BIJAY CHAKI/BIJOY PRADHAN @Bhubaneswar

BJD president and leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik said there was nothing in the budget to resolve the issues of price rise and unemployment that have emerged the foremost problems for the country at present.

"Today, the youth of the country are in the dire need of jobs and common people are bearing the brunt of unchecked price rise of essential commodities. It is unfortunate that two of the most pressing challenges the country is facing, have not been addressed in the budget," he said.