LoP Sunil Sharma says budget is NC-centric, offers nothing to common people
Jammu, Feb 6: Leader of the Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma on Friday criticised the budget presented by the National Conference-led government, alleging that it was “centric to the MLAs of the National Conference” and had nothing to offer to the common people.
Speaking to reporters outside the J&K Assembly, Sharma said the budget failed to address key public concerns and accused the government of diverting funds meant for development.
“This is a budget for the MLAs of the National Conference. This is a budget centric to the National Conference. There is nothing for the common masses in this budget,” Sharma said.
He alleged that funds requested from the Centre had been shifted to NC legislators. “Only the money requested by the Indian government has been shifted to the MLAs of the National Conference so that the looting continues. There is nothing for the common masses,” he said.
Raising concerns over daily wagers, Sharma said the government had failed to come up with a concrete policy for their regularisation. “There was a big joke played with daily wagers. For the last one-and-a-half years, they were given only toffees and lollipops. Today, their faces are exposed. There is no concrete policy in phased manner,” he said.
Questioning the government’s claims on phased implementation, he added, “What is phased manner? This was going on during the LG’s time and also during previous governments.”
Sharma further said the budget did not address the long-standing issues faced by daily wagers regarding wages and job security. “How long will you keep daily wagers between Rs 70,000 and Rs 1,00,000? This is not a concrete policy,” he said.
On employment, Sharma accused the government of failing to fulfil its promises. “You had said that in 180 days, jobs would be given to unemployed youth. There is no progress in this budget,” he said, adding that many aspirants were waiting after completing coaching while their age limits were increasing.
He also raised objections to the outsourcing of jobs, alleging a lack of transparency and merit. “There is no concern about merit. Omar Abdullah picks up 24,000 jobs and gives them to a company. These jobs are outsourced. There is no interview, no application form, no return,” Sharma said.
Claiming that deserving candidates were being ignored, he said, “The one sitting on merit will have to give exams again. How will he go ahead? To give jobs to relatives, all orders will be issued.”
Calling the budget anti-people, Sharma said capital expenditure had not been mentioned. “Capital expenditure is not mentioned anywhere. This is a totally anti-public, anti-people budget,” he said.
Referring to power subsidies, Sharma alleged the government had misled people. “Around 8.5 lakh families are registered here. Last year also, they were made fun of. Yesterday, they said this was their cleverness. The electricity was being given by the Indian government,” he said.
He also questioned the government’s approach towards economically weaker sections and poor families. “Where will BPL go? Where will EWS go? Where will the poor go?” Sharma asked. (KNS)
