J&K neglected in Union Budget, says Congress

Jammu, Feb 1 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir has been neglected in the Union Budget and it has no roadmap for dealing with rising prices and unemployment, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) said on Wednesday.

“The budget has not brought any good news for the poor, unemployed youths and farmers besides small traders who are worst affected by the economic policies of the BJP government,” PCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said in a statement.

He said the budget has no roadmap for dealing with rising prices, large scale unemployment and economic crisis faced by farmers.

“Jammu and Kashmir has been suffering for the last over three years and it has been neglected in the budget,” he said, adding even the wages of MGNREGA workers have not been enhanced.

“There is no good news for the anganwadi workers, daily wagers and the working class except a small tax rebate to the middle class. Farmers, who were promised to double their income, are in great economic distress and there is no relief for them in the budget,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jammu-based Federation of Industries (FOI) welcomed the Union Budget as “industry friendly” and beneficial for all sections of society in J-K.

“We welcome the proposals for the speedy development of the MSME sector as well as for the corporate sector within Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country,” the FOI said.

However, the industry body requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to provide adequate funds for the development of industrial infrastructure, which includes the completion of industrial estates, in time bound manner in the Union territory on the basis of Rs 28,400 crore industrial package announced in January last year.