By IANS,
Shimla : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Monday described the union budget as “disappointing” and “prejudiced” against the hill state as far as promotion of industry is concerned.
“The central government has discriminated with the state by making no mention in the union budget about the extension of a special industrial package,” Dhumal told reporters here.
He said the state has been requesting the central government that the expiry of the industrial package before its actual time-frame would hamper the growth of industries in the state.
“The union budget has provided a special package of Rs.8,000 crore to Jammu and Kashmir, but is silent in the case of Himachal. This clearly shows the prejudice against the state,” he added.
Himachal Pradesh was originally granted the industrial package for 10 years from 2003. However, this was later curtailed to March 2010.
Dhumal said the relief given in the agriculture sector in the union budget was also jugglery of figures as this would not give any benefit to the farmers immediately. “Even the common man has not got any relief from inflation,” he added.