Trinamool MLAs burn Bengal Budget, literally

West Bengal Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta today presented the Vote-on-Account in the State Assembly amid a walk-out by the Opposition. MLAs of the Trinamool Congress burnt copies of the Budget later.

‘‘The thrust of the Budget is to create more employment opportunities on the basis of an alternative economic policy and reforms,’’ Dasgupta said, while presenting the Rs 85-crore deficit Budget. The Budget proposed to increase tax revenue by 18.4 per cent, from Rs 8,825 crore in the current year to Rs 10.449 crore in the next year. The Minister said he could not announce any new proposal in view of the model code of conduct. ‘‘We propose no new taxes and no increase or reduction in existing taxes.” Dasgupta added that the state government might introduce new taxes after the elections. ‘‘The options are open,’’ he said. —(ENS & PTI photo)