Tharoor Gives Budget Failing Grade, Blasts BJP Over Inflation and Falling Investment
• Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called the interim Budget "disappointing" and gave it a "failing grade".
• Tharoor said under the BJP government 'G' stood for "governmental intrusion and tax terrorism", 'D' for "demographic betrayal" and 'P' for "poverty and rising inequality”.
• He attacked the government over inflation, saying those "at the bottom 20 per cent unable to buy in the bazaar what they could buy a year or two ago”.
• Tharoor challenged finance minister's claims of a rise in foreign investment, said it has fallen from 3.6% of GDP under UPA to 1% now.
• He expressed concern over the state of democracy and diversity, cited recent ED action against a CM, attacks on minorities.