Arun Jaitley's maiden budget was not just a result of prodigious inputs from his six member core team, but also had PM Modi's inputs stamped all over it. In fact, some of the announcements in the budget were made keeping in mind PM Modi's personal tastes and beliefs.
Arun Jaitley's maiden budget was not just a result of prodigious inputs from his six member core team, but also had PM Modi's inputs stamped all over it. In fact, some of the announcements in the budget were made keeping in mind PM Modi's personal tastes and beliefs.
Modi, a yoga buff, had asked Jaitley to make special provisions for yoga. Jaitley in his budget then announced that the government would amend the Income Tax Act to include yoga in the list of 'charitable activities' that would enjoy exemptions.
Modi was also keen on purging schemes named after Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi. Jaitley did not mention the continuance of any scheme named after the Nehru dynasty. Modi was also keen that certain historical figures whose role has been underestimated in India's freedom struggle be resuscitated.
One of the leaders whose legacy Modi wanted to enhance was Deen Dayal Upadhyay. Jaitley announced that Upadhyay's 100th birth anniversary which falls this year would be celebrated in a 'befitting' manner.
Jaitley promised to form a special committee and adequate funds that would be used to celebrate Upadhyay's birthday. Jaitley went a step ahead and announced Rs 1,500 crore for the Deen Dayal Upadhayay Gramin Kushal Yojana. The scheme aims to provide money to meritorious students for their education.
There was a wave of self-congratulatory messages from the BJP. PM Modi tweeted, "FM Jaitley should be congratulated for his pro-growth, pro-poor, pro-middle class, pro youth & paradigm shifting budget."
HRD minister Smriti Irani also joined PM Modi in the back thumping. She said, "It is a very pragmatic budget. Atal Yojana programme needs to be celebrated across the country." Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari said the highest priority has been given to infrastructure for the first time in the nation's history.
Urban development minister Venkiah Naidu termed the budget, "Very innovative & very inspiring." "People will be happy not only about the budget proposals, but also the reforms, taxation and steps taken to end the black money,'' he said. Environment minister Prakash Javdekar went a step further terming the budget "historical."
Defence minister Manohar Parikkar lauded Jaitley by rating his budget 9.5 out of 10.
"I think he has done very well. There is an 11% increase in defence budget."
The opposition however came down hard on Jaitley. Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha said, "Mr Jaitley's supposed Big Bang budget ends with a timid whimper. It keeps an appointment with disappointment"
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