The Opposition on Wednesday flayed the maiden Budget presented by the first ever BJP Government in Haryana saying nothing was proposed in the budget 2015-16 for farmers, who suffered huge losses due to recent rains and hailstorm in the State.
“Farmers have been ignored in the budget... No special package to provide them financial assistance has been proposed in the budget for fiscal 2015-16 by the BJP Government,” said leader of Opposition and INlD leader, Abhay Chautala while participating in the debate on the budget presented by Finance Minister Capt. Abhimanyu in Assembly. Slamming the BJP’s Budget, Chautala said that the Government had failed to mention as to how the funds allocated to various sectors would be utilised and how debt on Government would be reduced. More funds should be allocated to health sector and for the welfare of dalits, he demanded. Speaking during discussion, Kiran Choudhry, leader of the Congress legislature Party, said the budget lacked vision and clarity of purpose, belies expectations and offered the common man, especially the farmers, neither relief nor hope. It was a complete let-down…
“Suna tha urange Galib ke purze, dhekne ham bhi gaye, magar tamasha na hua... This famous Urdu couplet holds no less true for the first Budget of the BJP Government. What was promised to be a big-bang reforms and people-oriented budget did not even end in a whimper,” she remarked. “No measures have been listed to spur growth; no steps have been taken to rein in deficit; no schemes for the welfare of the man in the street; and no plans to lessen the woes of the suffering farmer, added Choudhry.
Intervening, former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda said there was no mention of implementation of Swaminathan report in the budget while you had promised to implement it in your (BJP) election manifesto. If, it is Centre which has to implement it, why BJP mentioned it in manifesto for State Assembly elections, questioned Hooda. Continuing her tirade against the Government, Choudhry added that nothing had been done to make ‘Make in India, Make in Haryana’ a reality. It remains a slogan... There is no mention of Rakhi Garhi, which was Finance Minister’s own constituency. It should be developed like Mohanjo Dao and other such sites to showcase Haryana as its ancient heritage, she demanded.
Recalling his association with the BJP, Haryana Janhit Congress MlA Kuldeep Bishnoi said, “I have a lot of contribution in your victory and the party would give all support to you for development of the State.” He demanded funds for MlA on the pattern of MPlADS, scrapping of nuclear power plant at Fatehabad and strengthening of infrastructure at grassroot levels in the state.
Bishnoi went onto to say that issue of Sutlej-Yamuna link canal should be resolved even if Haryana has to give Chandigarh capital to Punjab. The opposition parties also demanded more time for discussion on the State Budget. Speaker Kanwar Pal Gujjar had earlier informed the House that a total of 400 minutes time had been allotted for the discussion on budget. It included 175 minutes for BJP, 84 minutes for INlD, 60 minutes for Congress among others.