Budget 2014: Congress-NCP slams budget; says Maharashtra was purposely ignored

MUMBAI: The Congress-NCP in Maharashtra today criticised the Union Budget saying that it reflected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "limited vision" besides apathy towards the state.

To prove that "Gujarat Model" is a success, Maharashtra is being deliberately ignored, Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant alleged.

"No provision has been made for development projects in the state. Even for IIM and AIIMs institutions in the state, there is no concrete proposal and funds mentioned," he said.

Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil described the budget as a " FDI budget" which aims to raise funds not from internal resources but from abroad specially in defence and insurance sector.

Talking to reporters, Patil, who was state's former Finance Minister, said Modi spoke of upliftment of the poorest of the poor, efficient government and job opportunities during his election campaign.

"These assurances are not reflected in the budgetary provisions," he said.

Patil charged that 'Modi's India' was limited to Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Gujarat alone.

"The budget focuses on making Delhi a world class city. Rs 200 crore are provided for Sardar Patel statue. We have no problem with it but the project is that of the Gujarat government. If Modi was large hearted enough, he would have made provisions for Chhatrapati Shivaji statue also which the state government is constructing with its own funds. Modi has no love for Mumbai," he said.

NCP spokesman Nawab Malik described the budget as a disappointment. "There is no new vision or roadmap. UPA schemes like Nirmal Bharat scheme and the JNNURM have been repackaged with new names," he charged.