West Bengal's Left Front government said the Union budget does not provide aclue to a solution for any of the "burning" problems facing the country.Instead, it will destroy Indian industry to the advantage of imports, andaffect all sections of the people.Finance minister Asim Dasgupta, briefing reporters, said the issues thathave to be tackled are recession in both industrial and agriculturalproduction, unemployment and inflation.
"This budget... would aggravate each of these problems," he said. "It isagainst farmers, against workers, against employees, against small industry,against middle industry. And it is particularly against the people of WestBengal."
He reserved the harshest criticism for finance minister Yashwant Sinha'sproposals to lower interest rates on small savings schemes, allow layoffs,lower customs duties while increasing excise rates, cut jobs in thegovernment sector and pull out from the public distribution system.
Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
