Union Budget 2020 does injustice to Maharashtra, Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday alleged that Union budget gives "step-morly" treatment to state and does t do justice to Mumbai. budget presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman was far removed from reality, said Thackeray, a former ally of BJP. 

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Uddhav Thackarey on Union Budget

"It is deeply disappointing for Maharashtra. This budget is unjust for Maharashtra and Mumbai which is country's growth engine," Thackeray said in a statement. It does t support development of basic amenities in Mumbai and on-going metro projects in megapolis, he said.

"re is mention of suburban railway network (in Mumbai) and development of proposed lines (on Central and Western Railway routes).

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" budget gives momentum to development of railway network in state except for mention of projects anunced earlier, such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train," Thackeray said.

He also raised a question over Centre t considering any site from "culturally rich" Maharashtra for development as "iconic site". Sitharaman anunced in budget that Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh), Shivsagar (Assam), Dholavira (Gujarat) and Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu) will be developed as "iconic sites".

" step-morly treatment given to Maharashtra has become evident in budget. International Finance Centre in Gujarat has been strengned, while Mumbai, which makes highest contribution to country's growth, has been deliberately igred," Thackeray said.

decision to divest a stake in LIC and possible privatisation of railways show precarious state of ecomy, chief minister said. growth rate for current fiscal is 5 per cent, while in ecomic survey for 2020-21 it is estimated at 6 to 6.5 percent, he said.

"This growth doesn't t have potential to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of making India a USD 5 trillion ecomy nation," Thackeray said.

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He also dismissed finance minister's claim that Goods and Services Tax gave a relief to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). " Small and Medium Enterprises have been bedevilled by GST. People's purchasing power has decreased, impacting small scale industries, which in turn has landed workers in trouble.

"re was a need to encour employment-generating industries. But such steps were anunced in budget," Thackeray said. It made substantial provisions for farmers, women and children and disabled persons, he added.

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