Budget ‘much below peoples’ expectations’: PDP

JAMMU - Jammu and Kashmir’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti Friday described the budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee as “much below expectations of the people”.

In her reaction to the budget that has given income tax relief to the salaried class and middle class but raised the fuel prices, Mehbooba Mufti said the people had pinned “great expectations” on the budget and were expecting some relief on the price rise and availability of food grain in the market at cheap rates.

“But this has not happened.”

She said that the proposed raise in petrol and diesel prices, would mean more hardships for the people of Jammu and Kashmir who get most of the things from other parts of the country.

“We are at the last corner of the country. The cost of ferrying goods would go up and that would impact the common people,” she said, adding she hoped that the finance minister would review these proposals before voting on the budget in parliament.