Budget 2013: Congress MPs ask FM to raise income-tax exemption limit to Rs 3 lakh

Congress leaders made a strong pitch for increasing the annual income-tax exemption limit from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh in their pre-Budget consultation with finance minister P Chidambaram at the AICC headquarters on Thursday evening.

"Issues like farm sector, minorities, tribal development, education and infrastructure sector were raised. Out of the 46 leaders present, 32, including Chidamabaram, spoke," Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters after the two hour long meeting.

Other demands included increasing subsidised cooking gas cylinders from nine to 12, curbing price rise and providing infrastructure in rural areas to increase employment opportunities and stop migration to urban cities.

General secretary Oscar Fernandes wanted more gas reserves to be found to reduce India's dependence on oil imports.

General secretary Jagdish Tytler stressed the government should focus on creating more employment opportunities with an eye on the 2014 general elections.

Congress leaders also pushed for another farm loan waiver to help it win the several state elections scheduled for this year and the Lok Sabha polls of 2014.

What added weight to the demand was it was put forth by party treasurer and Gandhi family aide, Motilal Vora, who conducted the interaction of AICC office-bearers with Chidambaram.

According to sources, Vora said there was a need to introduce a farm loan waiver as the agriculture sector was ailing due to multiple reasons. His demand was supported by a number of leaders, including Congress general secretary Mohan Prakash and Seva Dal head Mahendra Joshi.

Party seniors felt that the government might have fiscal constraints owing to a limited growth rate of 5.5 per cent in the current fiscal but it should bail out debt-ridden farmers.