Narendra Modi government’s first full budget today encountered opposition from an RSS-affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh(BMS) which said it facilitated corporates and neglected the working class and that ‘achche din’ have not come for them.
Expressing resentment over the budget, the Sangh has decided to hold a protest on March 2 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Joining the opposition in criticising the budget, the BMS said it disappointed the aspirant government employees and working/labour class.
It also raised strong objections to the involvement of private sector in developing ports through FDI and said it is not in the interest of national security and “cannot be allowed”.
“Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh expressed its displeasure over the central budget for the year 2015-16 presented by the Union government today.
“The budget has disappointed the aspirant government employees and entire working class/labour…The mazdoor were looking for the ‘achche din’. But it has not come so far,” BMS general secretary Vrijesh Upadhyay said in a statement.
He said the government has facilitated corporate sector by decreasing corporate tax and abolishing the wealth tax, but there has been no increase in Income Tax limit to salaried class and nor is there any increase in the honorarium to the aanganwadi/aasha workers.
“This shows the neglecting approach of the Union government towards the working class,” he said.
He said the central government has “crossed all limits” in bringing FDI and inviting multi-national companies and encouraged privatisation in railways and ports by PPP model.
“The government is indirectly inviting the multinationals through sea, but it is not in the interest of national security, which cannot be allowed,” he said.
The Sangh also raised strong objections to government’s proposal in setting up a welfare fund for senior citizens using money from EPF/PPF.
“Government prefers the NPS instead of EPF in order to facilitate the private insurance companies. The government should bear in mind that this is the money that belongs to the five crore poor mazdoors, which cannot allow it to misuse,” the BMS leader said.
Talking of decrease in customs duty in 22 commodities, the BMS said it will lead to increase in unemployment and closure of industries.
“This unwanted, unpleasant attitude of the present central government attracted the nationwide resentment amongst the employees and working class, so BMS has decided to hold a protest on March 2 at Jantar Mantar and call it to raise throughout the country,” Upadhyay said.