Union Budget 2021 | Agri cess in Budget comes under attack from Opposition in Karnataka
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The Congress and the Janata Dal (S) have come down closely on the Union Budget 2021-22, particularly the imposition of the brand new Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC).
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah stated that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, whereas claiming to haven’t imposed any new tax, has tried to mobilise assets by means of the AIDC. “Cess has been levied on even agricultural products such as fertilizers and fuel, that will in turn affect farmers also,” he stated. He stated the cess levied on gas would result in an all-round inflation and worth rise, pinching everybody. This, he alleged, can incite folks in opposition to farmers for the reason that blame shall be pinned on AIDC.
JD(S) chief H.D. Kumaraswamy additionally stated that whereas the federal government has branded the protesting farmers as “anti-nationals”, it appears to be leaning on the farm sector to mobilise assets. “There is no clarity if the resources generated will be used to improve that sector,” he added.
‘No transparency’
Both leaders stated there was a scarcity of transparency on the estimated income from the cess and the way it will be spent to create agricultural infrastructure. “In the entire Budget speech and its annexure, there is no mention of either the estimated revenue mobilisation from the cess or how it will be spent for farmers’ welfare,” Mr. Siddaramaiah stated.
Farmers’ chief Kurubur Shanthakumar additionally condemned the dearth of readability on the cess and stated its imposition on agricultural merchandise similar to fertilizers and gas would enhance the enter price for farmers. “The best the government can do for the farmers is to withdraw the three anti-farmer laws it has enacted,” he added.
Countering the “atma nirbhar” branding of the Budget, Mr. Siddaramaiah stated the Budget, as a substitute of placing more cash in folks’s arms throughout this time of financial contraction and a pandemic, was snatching more cash from them. He condemned the push for 74% personal funding in the insurance coverage sector and for privatisation of airports and ports.
Mr. Kumaraswamy stated the federal government has to return clear and announce that each particular person would get free vaccination for COVID-19. “There has been no such announcement and that is a big drawback,” he stated.
