July 24, 2014
Sukhendu Shekhar Roy slams the Union Budget in Rajya Sabha
Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Mr Sukhendu ShekharRoy called the Union Budget 2014 a “dented and painted version” of UPA`sinterim budget. “The BJP spoke about sabka saath, sabka vikas. But there isno roadmap and it does not give any new vision, mission or dimension for thehungry millions of our country,” Mr Roy said while addressing the debate on the2014 Budget at the Upper House of the parliament.
Mr Roy referred to number of schemes whichgot merely Rs 100 crore from the government in the Budget. He said the Budgetdid not take care of the common man and termed as “laughable” themeagre provision of Rs 100 crore each for “Beti Bachao” and for setting up of new ventures which givesonly Rs 2.77 crore to each state and Union Territory. He pointed out that theproject has been lifted from Kanyashreescheme that has been instituted by West Bengal Chief Minister Ms MamataBanerjee in the State and has an allocation of Rs 1000 crore.
Mr Roy flayed the government for its”inaction” in getting the names of Indians who have stashed moneyabroad in banks. He said economic reforms have benefited the rich people andnot the poor and charged the previous governments with not taking any steps forthe common people.
The Trinamool MP slammed Finance MinisterMr Arun Jaitley for announcing 25 schemes with Rs 100 crore allocations eachand another 40 with Rs 50 crore allocations each. Only a meagre sum of Rs 100crore was allocated for the modernization of madrassahs, he said. He also lamented that the budget did not haveany allocation for small and medium enterprises.
Demanding that steps be taken to ensurethat states do not seek Centre`s help with begging bowls, Mr Roy said”there must be a dispute redressal mechanism.”He also sought theextension of the Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor to Siliguri that connectsto the North-Eastern states as well as the Ganga Action Plan up to Swagardweep,which according to the Budget ends at Patna.
Click here to read the full transcript of his speech.
