145;UPA crippled by Left paralytic stroke146;

Participating in the discussion on the Union Budget 2008-09, he said that though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram are known as pro-reforms, they have failed to do much on pursuing that policy.

Roopatai Patil BJP argued that waiving loans would not be enough for improving the lot of the farming community as those farmers who took money from money lenders should also have been included in the loan waiving scheme.

She sought correction of irregularies in the NREGP and asked the government to fix the prices of sugarcane so that farmers get the right price of their produce.

R L Jalappa Cong said a debt relief registration should be brought to waive all loans of farming community from money-lenders. He also said unless interest rate is brought down to 4 per cent, the government cannot farmers from becoming defaulters.

Shafiqurrahman Barq SP pointed out that 46 per cent farmers took loans from money-lenders and a mechanism would have to be evolved for providing permanent relief to them.

Sangita Singh Deo BJP pointed out that despite the government stressing on inclusive growth, the backward districts of Orissa like Bolangir and Kalahandi have got virtually nothing from the budget.

Others who spoke included K V Thangabalu Cong, S K Bwismuthiary Ind and Tejaswini See Ramesh Cong.