New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday lauded the "outstanding" Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, which he said catered to all sections of the economy and provided relief to the salaried middle class.

"In every respect, it's an outstanding budget. I want to compliment the Finance Minister. It's eighth budget, and this is a budget which caters to all sections of the economy. But more than that, it provides a kind of relief to the salaried middle class, which is very welcome and was anticipated partly," Puri told ANI.

He said that there was no income tax relief at the earning of Rs 2.5 lakh per annum, in 2014, during Congress' rule. The figure has increased...