Arun Jaitley on Union Budget day. Photo: ReutersNew Delhi: Opposition leaders slammed the populist 'budget' of Narendra Modi government, stating that the it was 'unconnected to ground realities'.
In his reaction to Modi government's last full budget before the next Lok Sabha election, CPM general secretary Sitrama Yechury said it 'was a textbook exercise in post-truth.'
Finance minister Arun Jaitley spoke of massive spending on rural infrastructure, to win over voters in the countryside where two-thirds of India's 1.3 billion people live.
Meanwhile, Congress leader P Chidambaram said Jaitley had failed the fiscal consolidation test that will have 'serious consequences' on the economic growth rate.
Chidambaram tweeted that the fiscal deficit limit of 3.2 per cent in 2017-18 had been breached and was now estimated at 3.5 per cent.
"For 2018-19 also against 3.0 per cent, he (Jaitley) has fixed fiscal deficit at 3.3 per cent," Chidambaram said. "This failure will have serious consequences."
Read more: Budget | Union Budget: Rs 40,000 income tax deduction on transport, medical expenses
