Budget is anti-poor: Mayawati

Describing the Union budget as "disappointing and directionless", Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati said it will lead to further price rise and adversely affect the common man.

"Prices would further escalate with rise in prices of diesel, petrol, fertiliser, cement and steel and directly affect the poor, farmers, labourers and common people" she said in a statement here.

Terming the proposals as anti-poor and aimed at encouraging hoarding, Mayawati said the budget has proved once again that the slogan 'Congress ka haath aam admi ke saath' is irrelevant as the party is once again standing with the capitalists.

Social sector and poor in the urban and rural areas have been neglected, she added.

On the other hand, Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the budget "will boost the economy and benefit all sections of the society especially poor, farmers, women and salaried class".

He appreciated the proposal to raise subvention for timely repayment of crop loan from 1% to 2% and doubling of plan allocation for power sector to Rs5,130 crore.