PM has passed with flying colours: Rajnath Singh
Home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Union Budget, saying the Budget reflected the vision of the Prime Minister who has passed the Budget test with “flying colours”.
Terming the Budget “excellent”, Mr Singh said, “If the Union Budget were like annual exams for our Prime Minister, then I must say he has passed the exams with flying colours.”
Congratulating finance minister Arun Jaitley on presenting an “excellent” Budget, he said it was a “pro-farmer, pro-poor and pro-reform Budget”.
“The Budget has certainly outperformed people’s expectations on almost all fronts and it will have a multiplier effect on our economy,” he said.
He said the Budget gives the government an opportunity to deepen the economic foundation and widen the infrastructure network. “Strengthening rural economy and providing income security to the farmers have been given top priority in this year’s Budget.” The home minister highlighted that the “highest ever target of Rs 9 lakh crore as agri loans to farmers and highest ever allocation of Rs 3,8,500 crore to MNREGA is bound to benefit rural economy”.
He said by increasing the allocation of funds to Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana to Rs 19000 crore is a big step to boost rural infrastructure.’’
“Infrastructure development is one of the biggest positive of this year’s budget. Rs 55000 crore to developing highways is a welcome step. Clubbed with capital expenditure in Railways the investment in infrastructure sector by this NDA government will exceed more than 2.2 lakh,” he said. He also applauded the decision to provide Rs 2.87 lakh crore grant in aid to Gram Panchayats and municipalities and the provisions to boost the manufacturing sector and creating jobs for the youth.
Singh said the ‘’budget has surely outperformed people’s expectations on almost all fronts and will have a multiplier effect on the economy.’’