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Gehlot presents interim Budget amid walk-out

Photo: PTI

Silent protest: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje leading a protest by legislators in the Assembly in Jaipur on Thursday.

JAIPUR: Even as Bharatiya Janata Party members boycotted the proceedings of the Rajasthan Assembly here on Thursday, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sought a vote on account for the next four months starting from April 2009.

Mentioning the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Gehlot, who holds the Finance portfolio, said an interim Budget was being proposed as there was not enough time left till March 31 for introduction and passage of a full Budget for 2009-10.

The BJP members led by Vasundhara Raje arrived in the House wearing white bands over their mouths in a novel way of protest against the Congress Government’s alleged attempt to stop the Opposition from airing “people’s problems”. Their protest was against the adjournment of the House on the opening day of the session on Wednesday after the condolences and the absence of Question Hour on the second day. The Opposition also did not fully participate in the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee held the previous day.

As no one from the BJP spoke due to their “Mukh bandh” (kind of tiny white bands over the mouth) Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA Amra Ram made all the talking on behalf of the Opposition. He accused the Government of violating norms and parliamentary procedures in suspending the Question Hour and also in not giving an opportunity to the members to speak on various “burning issues” including law and order.

While the BJP members walked out prior to Mr. Gehlot presenting the interim Budget estimates, the three-member CPI (M) left the House after the speech got over. It took less than 10 minutes for Mr. Gehlot to complete his speech. The House adjourned sine die around 11-40 a.m. after the passage of the vote on account with a voice vote.

Altogether the Assembly had its briefest session this time. In two days’ sitting, the total proceedings had been for about 60 minutes.

Talking to journalists later, Mr. Gehlot said the BJP protest was a mere reflection of their frustration over losing elections. Outside the House, Ms. Raje termed the Congress act in adjourning the Assembly sine die as “undemocratic”.

Presenting an overall picture of the State’s economy, Mr. Gehlot said the impact of the global economic slowdown would amount to a reduction of Rs.913.20 crore to Rajasthan in the 2009-10 Budget estimates in the form of decline in revenue from the State and the share in Central taxes. As per the interim Budget of the Centre, the share of Rajasthan in the Central revenue in the revised estimates came down to Rs.8,997 crore from the earlier Rs.9, 877 crore. In the coming fiscal year the State’s share would be, Rs.9618 crore.

However, despite the prospects of a decline in revenue from taxes, the Planning Commission recently pegging the Annual Plan size for Rajasthan for 2009-10 at Rs.17,322 crore -- the biggest ever so far -- was indicative of the growth potential of the State, Mr. Gehlot claimed.

The total Budget size for Rajasthan in 2009-10 stands at Rs.48,400 crore while the revised Budget estimate for 2008-09 is Rs.43,624 crore. Mr. Gehlot also mentioned the deficit of Rs.283.2 crore in the revised estimates for 2008-09 against a revenue surplus of Rs.1,183 crore due to the additional expenses incurred in implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission in the case of the State Government employees.

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