Date:03/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/03/stories/2008030369450600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

APCC chief hails budget

Special Correspondent

VIJAYAWADA: The Union Budget of the UPA government was a bonanza for the farmers and all those criticising it were insulting farmers and indirectly harming them, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) in-charge president G. S. Rao said on Sunday.

Mr. Rao, who came here to felicitate Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal for conducting the Tiranga Run successfully, said at a press conference that the Rs. 60,000-crore debt waiver for farmers was unprecedented. Each farmer would be able to reap a benefit of Rs. 3 lakhs to Rs. 4 lakhs. For several farmers who were on the “verge of suicide”, the budget was “godsend”. To brand the budget an ‘election budget’ was highly improper, Mr. Rao said.

Mr. Rao said that the recent Rs.1 lakh-crore State Budget was also highly beneficial to farmers. Out of the 1.17 crore farmers in the State, 85 lakhs would benefit by it in one way or the other, he said. He said developmental and welfare schemes being implemented in the State were unique.

City Congress president Pyla Sominaidu and PCC executive member Kolanukonda Sivaji were present .