BJP state president Parsottam Rupal said in a statement that while Gujarat has already achieved 10.4 per cent growth in the face of “myriad adversities”, this Budget would help the state achieve 11.3 per cent growth in the coming financial year.

BJP spokesperson I K Jadeja came down heavily on the Opposition Congress for staging a walkout during the Budget session. “As it is the Congress does not have any issue for it to make its presence felt, their walking out is mere show,” Jadeja told Newsline. “As the Opposition, the Congress has failed in Gujarat,” he added.

BJP state general secretary Jayanti Barot and former spokesperson Vijay Rupani congratulated Vajubhai Vala for presenting the state budget for the 13th consecutive time and claimed the budget has taken care of all sections of society, including women, children, youth and farmers.

The BJP’s euphoric reactions have been strongly questioned by the CPM. In a statement, party state secretary Arun Mehta termed the budget as deceiving the people of Gujarat.

“While the party promised myriad schemes like Sagar Khedu for the fishing communities and Vanvasi Yojana for tribals before elections, the chief minister has conveniently forgotten the tribals, Dalits, fishermen and the poor people of the state,” Mehta said.

While the proposed budget will protect the interests of a few industrialists, going by this, the state will touch Rs 1 lakh crore as far as debt is concerned by March 2009. This debt already amounts to Rs 85,000 crore at this point in time, Mehta added.