Goa Congress, BJP spar over budget; industry lauds it

Panaji, July 10 (IANS) The ruling BJP in Goa praised Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's first budget, while the opposition Congress criticised it and the industry termed it a "fairly good exercise" focused on job creation by encouraging investment, spurring economic growth and providing clarity on tax issues.

The Goa unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the announcement of an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and a convention centre in Goa, as the Congress called Jaitley's proposals a "private sector budget".

BJP Lok Sabha member from South Goa Narendra Savoikar said the setting up of an IIT and an AIIMS facility in Goa, as well as a convention centre to host the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was "great news" for the state.

"The budget encompasses all sections and states and initiates their development. I welcome and support the initiatives and the budget of Narendra Modi and his government. It focuses on youth, underprivileged women and focuses on development of all sectors," Savoikar said.

The Congress, however, said the budget was aimed at pleasing the private sector in India's commercial capital Mumbai.

"Only the interests of the Mumbai private sector are looked after well," Congress Rajya Sabha member Shantaram Naik said.

Commenting on the proposed IIT and convention centre in Goa, Naik said that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had refused to allot land to a National Institute of Technology, and this attitude could impede the setting up of the IIT in the state.

"The chief minister should demand an amendment to the central legislation and demand at least 10 percent reservation for Goans (in the IIT)," Naik said.

He said the setting up of a convention centre on a public private partnership basis was not a grand concession.

Congress state spokesperson Durgadas Kamat said that despite the hype created by the state BJP, there was no financial concession or a relief package by Jaitley for those who have lost jobs and livelihood due to the mining ban in the state.

"There is no assurance on mining. The Goa BJP used their marketing skills to fool the people of the state with regards to financial relief or an economic package if Modi came to power," Kamat said.

Narayan Bandekar, president of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the budget would pave the way for a lot of foreign direct investment (FDI) and would bring in critical finance for the infrastructure and defence sectors.

"Development of industrial corridors with emphasis on 'Smart Cities' linked to transport connectivity and investment allowance of 15 percent for three years to manufacturing companies which invest more than Rs.25 crore in plant and machinery will spur growth in manufacturing," he said.

Commenting on the benefits in the budget for Goa, Bandekar said that while a world-class convention centre was a long-standing requirement for the state, the provision of e-visa facility at Goa's Dabolim international airport would also help beef up the arrival of foreign tourists to Goa.

"The budget has proposed an IIT in Goa. This will definitely help improve Goa's profile as an emerging education centre. Goa also stands to benefit from resolution of the mining impasse, and the state's finances will improve with revision of mining royalties," he said.

"The common man though will be disappointed with the marginal increase in basic exemption limit from Rs.2 lakh to Rs.2.5 lakh," he rued.