The budget of this year is likely to be dedicated to “aam aadmi” at least the initial discussion at a meeting for pre-budget consultation attained by 38 party leaders held at Congress’ 24 Akbar Road headquarters indicates this.
As the election is due to be held in next year, Congress leaders advised finance minister P Chidambaram to make pro-aam aadmi budget considering general election ahead. There might be difference of opinion on same issues, but on the issue of price rise, there was loud political call for bringing price rise under control urgently and secondly tackling farmer distress remained on top of the discussion.
Despite a request for checking the prices of essential commodities, the budgetary demands from his party colleagues arrayed from lower interest rates on home loans and higher limit for income tax exemption. All the leaders were unanimously on pointing out that the benefits of 9 percent growth rate had not percolated to the poor people.
The meeting, started with the discussion and contributing ideas to the finance minister regarding the budget that what the Congress wanted from that, soon turned into what the Congress need to do ahead of the assembly election and the general election. While many leaders gave suggestion related to budgetary allocation, others used the opportunity by speaking on the budget to present their political rhetoric.
“There is no case for lifting the ban as controlling price rise is high on our priority,” party media department chairperson M Veerappa Moily said.
The general secretary of the AICC said, “Although the government has managed to bring the inflation rate down, prices of essential commodities continue to be very high.”
“I do not want a populist budget. The budget must reflect equity and prosperity. It should respond to the Aam Admi’s problems. We are concerned about the promises made by the Congress in its manifesto and those in the National Common Minimum Programme. We are anxious to ensure that it is implemented before we face the electorate,” uttered Moily while talking to media.
The youth were looking forward with the charge of the Indian Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India taken by Rahul Gandhi. The young scion Gandhi asked the finance minister to dedicate the budget to the youth of the country.
He told that the youth were divided on caste, creed and religious lines, but sports could solve this problem by uniting all the different section of the society. “We want the government to improve the sports infrastructure and give concessions for sports equipment ahead of the Commonwealth games,” Gandhi said.
Many leaders demanded the finance minister for enhancing the budget allocation for SCs and STs to make it corresponding with their population. Besides better implementation of minority-focused programme, the leaders gave emphasis on the “youth oriented” budget and calling for scrapping of SEZs.
Regarding the hike in petrol prices, some leaders were of the opinion that if the government wanted to increase petroleum prices the right time was now as later in the year, string elections would make the move difficult.
Suicide of farmers, agrarian distress, cheaper credit, the impending petrol hike, LPG shortage, housing for the poor, health for all, schemes for artisans, and many more alike demands dominated the two-and half-hour discussions.
While putting all these demands together, the media chairperson Moily laid emphasis on the rural and farm sector more than anything else.
February 29 will be the decisive day when the finance minister will present the budget and the budget will show how far pre-budget discussion had made impact on Chidambaram.
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