Siddaramaiah calls budget as "Aatma Barbaad", HDK "Aatma Vanchane"
Bengaluru, Feb 1: The 2021-22 union budget evoked responses on expected lines in Karnataka on Monday with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa saying it has come as a catalyst that can revive the sluggish economy and opposition leaders slamming it as "Aatma Barbad" "Aatma Vanchane".
Yeddiyurappa said he strongly believed that the budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will act as a "speed booster" to the economy which was badly hit due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Describing it as pro-poor and pro-middle class, he said it was impossible to expect a better budget amidst the pandemic.
Former Karnataka chief ministers Siddaramaiah of Congress and H D Kumaraswamy of the JDS flayed the decision to impose Agriculture Infrastructure and Development cess on petrol, diesel, fertilisers among others, saying it will increase the price of commodities and affect everyone.
Yediyurappa, who holds the state's finance portfolio, said: "The Union Finance Minister has announced necessary strategies for economic revival as well as containment of the pandemic."
It was a welcome measure that the COVID-19 vaccination drive has been allocated Rs 35,000 crore and the Finance Minister assured more funds in case of necessity, the Chief Minister said, adding strengthening of agriculture sector, skill development, infrastructure development and industrial development had been given a special emphasis in the budget.
"The budget has provided a platform to double the farmer's income by 2022 as per the aspiration of Honble Prime Minister Narendra Modiji," he said and added Rs 16.50 lakh crore has been allocated for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Strengthening and continuation of minimum support price (MSP) to farmers has been emphasised.
Funds to improve the infrastructure in APMCs, doubling the grants for micro irrigation and value addition programme for 22 crops will help farmers in a great way, he further said, adding that tax holiday for construction of affordable houses will benefit the middle class.
Noting that Rs 1.10 lakh crore has been allocated under National Railway Project, Yediyurappa said, it was a welcome move to have provided Rs 1.07 lakh crores for capital expenditure.
"An amount of Rs 14,778 crore has been announced for Bengaluru Metro Project....58 kms of new route can be constructed due to this provision. This is the biggest gift to Karnataka from our own Finance Minister," he added.
Exemption of filing Income tax returns to senior citizens above 75 years was also an appreciable measure, he said.
"On the whole, the Union Budget 2021-22 has the potential to be a catalyst to revive the economy and implement development programmes. I wholeheartedly welcome this budget," he added.
Siddaramaiah in a tweet said: "Nirmala Sitharaman had announced Aatma Nirbhar package to provide relief from Covid induced fallout. As a follow up, 'Aatma Barbaad' budget has been announced today," Siddaramaiah tweeted.
"People had to face huge hardships due to Covid. Many lost jobs, Farmers could not sell their produce and Businesses went bankrupt. Yet there is no programme in the 2020-21 budget to address these issues," he claimed.
"Taxes are an inherent component of revenue mobilisation for govt projects. In order to avoid direct increase of tax, Nirmala Sitharaman is trying to increase the cess in the name of farmers," he said.
In spite of being a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, Sitharaman has completely ignored the stat, he said, accusing her of allocating more funds to states where elections were due in the next one year.
"If Karnataka goes for election every year, we may get more funds," he added.
Kumaraswamy also took to Twitter and said the Centre that has hiked prices, while claiming its budget was aimed at evolving Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, was indulging in talks of "Aatma Vanchane" (self deception).
"Is it possible for India to be self-reliant with such a hike in prices. Diesel and petrol prices are already increasing. It looks like the Centre seems to have not taken into account the impact of the new hike in prices," he said.
.@nsitharaman had announced Aatma Nirbhar package to provide relief from Covid induced fallout. As a follow up, 'Aatma Barbaad' budget has been announced today.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 1, 2021
1/14#Budget2021
ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಏರಿಸಿರುವ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ತನ್ನದು ‘ಅತ್ಮನಿರ್ಭರ ಭಾರತ’ ರೂಪಿಸುವ ಬಜೆಟ್ ಎಂದು ಆತ್ಮವಂಚನೆಯ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಇಷ್ಟು ಏರಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕಂಡ ಭಾರತವು ಆತ್ಮನಿರ್ಭರತೆಯನ್ನು ಸಾಧಿಸಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವೇ? ಡೀಸೆಲ್, ಪೆಟ್ರೋಲ್ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಏರುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಈಗಿನ ಭಾರಿ ಏರಿಕೆ ಪರಿಣಾಮ ಏನಾಗಲಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಯೋಚಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಇಲ್ಲ.
— H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) February 1, 2021
1/7
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India beat Japan 2-0, to face China in final of women's ACT hockey
Rajgir (Bihar), Nov 19: Defending champions India continued their unbeaten run and defeated Japan 2-0 to enter the final of the women's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Tuesday.
Vice-captain Navneet Kaur converted a penalty stroke in the 48th minute while Lalaremsiami struck from field play in the 56th minute for India, who had plenty of scoring chances including 13 penalty corners.
India will face China, whom they defeated in the league stages, in the final on Wednesday. Earlier, China beat Malaysia 3-1 in the first semifinal.
Malaysia will take on Japan in the third-fourth place match, while Korea finished fifth after beating Thailand 3-0 in the fifth-sixth place classification match.
The Indians continued their attacking game and put on early pressure on the Japanese defence, just like the last league game.
The play was mostly inside the Japanese half as the Indian defence was hardly tested.
India had the first shot at the goal inside the initial five minute. Skipper Salima Tete's attempt was thwarted by Japanse goalkeeper Yu Kudo.
The Indians repeatedly penetrated the Japanese citadel and in the process secured two penalty corners in a span of two minutes but Kudo was alert under the bar to deny Navneet Kaur and Deepika.
Three minutes into the second quarter, India secured three back-to-back penalty corners but failed to find the back of the net.
It was raining penalty corners for the hosts as they got back-to-back set pieces in the 21st minute but Kudo produced a brilliant save with her fully-stretched right leg to deny Deepika again.
In the 24th minute, India earned a penalty corner followed by another in the next minute but failed to get past Japanese goalkeeper Kudo, as they also lacked in execution.
A minute after the change of ends, India secured two penalty corners but wasted both.
In the 35th minute, Kodu again denied Deepika from a set piece.
In the 41st minute, Deepika stole the ball just outside the Japanese circle, but shot wide from a one-on-one situation with Kudo.
Seconds from the end of third quarter, Kudo once again pulled off a brilliant save to deny Udita from another penalty corner.
In the 47th minute, India secured their 12th penalty corner but failed to breach Kudo.
But a minute later, India broke the deadlock through a penalty stroke earned by Deepika and Navneet made no mistake.
The goal seemed to have rejuvenated the Indians as they scored a fine field goal in the 56th minute.
Lalremsiami slammed into the back of the Japanese goal after she was brilliantly set up by Sunelita Toppo's terrific run from the right flank.
Japan got a penalty corner in the dying moments, but failed to get past a rock solid Indian defence.
