BELLARY: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, while taking exception to the stalling of proceedings in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council by main Opposition party Congress, has said an all-party meeting should be convened to urge all parties to cooperate to ensure a smooth functioning of the two Houses.

"I will discuss the matter with the Chief Minister and request the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to convene a meeting of all parties," Mr. Yediyurappa told presspersons here on Saturday. He is on a two-day visit here to inaugurate the illumination of the Bellary fort, a musical fountain at the Dr. Rajkumar Park and to hear the grievances of the people.

"It is most unfortunate that the Congress has not been functioning as a responsible Opposition party and has been staging dharnas and walkouts over the last year. The Congress, as an experienced party, could have participated in discussions on important issues and thereby guided the Government," he said.

Criticising the Congress for spreading "false" propaganda that the Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition Government would fall soon, Mr. Yediyurappa said that the Government had completed one year in office and would go on to complete its full 40-month term.

Rejecting the demand of the Congress for a white paper on the Government's achievements, he said the coalition had been implementing the assurances it had made to the people.

He said the Government had announced several welfare programmes, including loan waiver for farmers and distribution of bicycles to poor children.

Budget

Mr. Yediyurappa said the Budget this year would be more progressive than last year's, and would give a special thrust to tourism, improvement of air and rail connectivity, and infrastructure development.

"The State will witness a lot development in the next six months," he said, and appealed to the Congress to extend its cooperation in this regard.

He said the Budget would be presented before March 16.

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