Modi says will double farmers’ income by 2022, attacks UP govt

Tiwari said that Modi needed to decide what exactly he is and what he wants.

The minister said the budget was “pro farmer, pro poor and pro reform”.

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani was all praise for the Union Budget as he termed it “one of the best so far” and said it shows that the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister have adopted an approach that promises to make India stronger and more prosperous.

Stressing the need to properly highlight electrification of villages, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Power Ministry must strive to complete electrification of 200 villages every week by following up with state implementing agencies regularly”, a source said.

He said the Budget has made “unprecedented” provision for accelerating and modernising India’s infrastructure in critical areas such as highways, railways and rural roads.

“To bring a qualitative change in their lives, several schemes have been kept in the Budget”, he said. At the same time, exemptions have been given to those living in rented accommodations, he noted.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Congress in the state criticised the budget saying that it has added to burden of the common man. “The Union budget is directionless”.

Pointing to the use of “chulha” (earthen stoves and firewood for cooking) by the poor, he said poor families use these which adversely affects the health of the women as well as their children. “Crores of such people will benefit through the scheme for free LPG connections”. Besides, he also asked the farmers to go for Soil Health Card so that their land gives optimum production with good quality and cheaper seeds.

He then spoke about creation of employment opportunities, including Dalit entrepreneurship, by providing appropriate eco-system.

“Farmers look towards governments after God and it is imperative on us to ensure that the farmers are looked after well”, the prime minister said. “A qualitative transformation of the education sector is what we are giving priority to”, he said.