Meenakshi Lekhi calls Budget pro-people

Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, August 5

Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi today called the Union Budget pro-people that has taken care of each and every section of society.

Addressing the media here, she said the Budget had provisions for ample opportunities for poor, women, youth and farmers.

Lekhi made a mention of the ongoing infrastructure development project in the state. According to her, the Centre has sanctioned over Rs 10,000 crore for the Pathankot-Mandi highway, Rs 13,784 crore for the Mataur-Shimla highway, Rs 13,784 crore for the Kiratpur-Kullu-Manali highway, Rs 1,692 for the Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh highway and Rs 7,632 crore for the Parwanoo-Solan-Shimla highway.

She also talked about the numerous tunnels coming up in the state, which, according to her, would make travel convenient in the days to come.

Making a reference to Article 112 of Constitution, which necessitates the Union Government to come out with a financial statement every financial year in the form of the Budget, she gave a comparative view of improvements made after 2014. She said India was among the top-five economies in the world. According to her, the Finance Commission, which decides the share of the states, has generously increased it from 28 per cent in 2014 to 42 per cent now. She said the Budget would support small-scale industries. Lekhi talked about various initiatives undertaken by the present government like Kaushal Vikas, Mudra loans, CSR initiatives, PMGSY. She said the number of airports in the country had risen to 162 from 62 in 2014.

Former ministers Vipin Parmar, Sarveen Chaudhary, Dharamsala MLA Sudhir Sharma, BJP leaders Sanjay Sharma, Rakesh Sharma and Vishav Chakshu were present on the occasion.