The Hindu : Karnataka News : White Paper on finances sought

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 30, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

White Paper on finances sought

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JULY 29. The Opposition parties in the Legislative Council on Thursday demanded that the Government publish a White Paper on the financial position of the State in the past five years.

Participating in the discussion on the Budget, M.P. Nadagouda (Janata Dal - United) said that the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, who had presented the Budget, should clarify the financial situation of the State through a White Paper.

Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (U) said that there was nothing political in their demand. S.M. Krishna, former Chief Minister, who held the Finance portfolio, and M. Rajasekhara Murthy had presented White Papers on the financial status of the State in the respective years, they added.

'Budget not valid'

Mr. Nadagouda said that there was no constitutional provision for the designation of Deputy Chief Minister, and therefore the Budget presented by Mr. Siddaramaiah was "not valid."

Citing Article 192(2), V.S. Ugrappa (Congress) asked whether it was not unconstitutional to discuss Budget estimates or the Money Bill when it had not been sent from the Lower House to the Upper House.

Venues for sessions

Deliberating on the D.M. Nanjundappa Committee's recommendations on removing regional imbalances, the Opposition members urged the Government to select another place for holding sessions of the Legislature, in addition to Bangalore. Holding a session in a place other than the State capital was in practice in Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir, where the members met in Nagpur and Jammu, respectively. If legislature sessions were held in places other than the State capital, it would facilitate the cultural and emotional unification of people.

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