NEW DELHI: The CPI general secretary Mr Indrajit Gupta said here on Wednesday that the Railways Minister Mr C.K Jaffar Sharif had let down the country badly by presenting a superficial budget.
In a statement Mr Gupta remarked it is not the railways job only to earn more money by cutting the people’s pockets but also to save money by drastic measures to reduce unnecessary expenditure and to plug leakages and losses.
He opened the railway minister’s budget for 1991-92 is similar to the balance sheet of any waders business. In order to make up the shortfall in income and to show a Surplus at the end of the year the customary hike in fares and freights has been resorted to. Thereby the Rs.512 crore deficits in last year’s interim budget has been converted into Rs.235 crore surplus this year
He had no doubt that 10% increase in freight rates would have an escalating impact on price levels despite the welcome exemption given to about a dozen essential commodities.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 26, 1991
