Only solace in budget, it's the last of UPA: Narendra Modi

Coming down heavily on the union government's interim budget, BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said the only solace in the budget was that it was the "last of the UPA".

"The United Progressive Alliance's last vote-on-account is extremely disappointing. It is nothing but a glorified exercise in self-congratulation," the Gujarat chief minister said.

"The only solace one gets from the vote-on-account is that this was UPA's final act of misery after a decade of decay and policy paralysis," he said.

"The finance minister said 296 projects worth Rs.6.6 lakh crore (were) cleared recently. Why were these projects held back at all? Is it not policy paralysis?" he questioned.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram, in his budget speech, said there was no policy paralysis.

"While the finance minister may pat his own back, the fact remains that our youth is bearing the brunt of rising unemployment. The UPA's lack of commitment towards bringing black money was on display yet again," Modi said.

He, however, welcomed the decision on "one rank one pension".

"I welcome the decision on 'one rank one pension' for our servicemen. Belated wisdom finally dawns on our 'hard working' UPA ministers," he said.

Taking a dig at Chidambaram, Modi said: "Hard working finance minister also joins other illustrious UPA ministers who are seeking refuge in history to judge their performance."

"It is up to the people to decide whether the economist prime minister and finance minister have been 'hard working' or 'hardly working' in their tenure," he added.