The Hindu : Karnataka News : `Budget is not anti-middle-class'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 20, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

`Budget is not anti-middle-class'

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JULY 19. The Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, claimed that the Budget he presented today was pro-poor, pro-farmer, but not anti-middle-class. He had only levied slightly higher taxes on sections of people who could afford to pay, and the funds would be utilised for the development of north Karnataka, he said.

Briefing presspersons on the features of the first budget of the Congress-Janata Dal (S) coalition Government, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that it was the first surplus budget in eight years. The Budget showed a surplus despite the funds allocated for measures to alleviate the suffering of the poor and the farmers. Karnataka, which was a progressive State, would go in for value-added tax next year, he said, adding that he had brought down the number of tax rates. On whether the promoters of online lotteries would go to court against breach of contract, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the contracts had been terminated as the companies had violated the conditions.

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