CM admits budget prepared keeping in mind SP’s election manifesto

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday termed the state budget for 2013-14, which he had presented in the Assembly on February 19, as "farmer friendly" and prepared keeping in mind the election manifesto of the Samajwadi Party.

Replying to the general debate on the budget, the Chief Minister said: "Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya had levelled allegation in his speech that we have presented a budget which is based on our election manifesto and prepared with an eye on the next Lok Sabha election. I candidly admit that we have done this as our election manifesto has the sanction from the people who elected us."

Akhilesh said budget funds during the BSP regime were diverted for unproductive use. "We are utilising 74 per cent of our budget on agriculture sector — on schemes beneficiary to farmers. Schemes such as loan waiver and free irrigation are meant for farmers," he added.

The Chief Minister denied the allegation that certain schemes of last year's budget were not being implemented. "Mauryaji had stated that the laptop distribution scheme is a gimmick. It will be launched on March 11. I will request Mauryaji to come and attend the function," Akhilesh stated.

He also presented figures from last budget of the BSP regime and compared these with fund allocation of his budget to underline the point that there had been a big jump in allocation on all important subjects.

"One can see that funds have been increased in every sector. The state had a growth rate of 8.4 per cent when we left in 2007 and we got the growth rate of 6.9 per cent when we took over in 2012," Akhilesh remarked. He said the government was concerned about power sector and new units would be commissioned at Harduaganj, Panki and Obra.

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