By IANS,
Bangalore : Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar Thursday described the 2013-14 union budget as “lacklustre” and without “any effective measures to revive the sluggish economy”.
“It is anti-growth and anti-development budget,” he said reacting to the budget presented in parliament by union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram.
Shettar said while the central government has suggested to the states to limit the fiscal deficit to three percent of the GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product), “the fiscal deficit of the centre is 5.2 percent of the GDP”.
This shows that “no effective steps are taken at national level to control fiscal deficit”, said the Bharatiya Janata Party chief minister.
“We had requested central support to improve the infrastructure of Bangalore which has global reputation. But, no such support is given in the budget,” Shettar said.
He said the budget would reduce the state’s share in central taxes and also central assistance for the state plan.
Karnataka’s share in central taxes would come down by Rs.400 crore in 2013-14 when compared to 2012-13 while the central assistance to state plan would be down by Rs.1,000 crore.