The Budget session of the Jharkhand Assembly beginning from Tuesday is likely to be stormy as the opposition parties are gearing up to raise the issues CNT –SPT and Domicile.
The winter session of the Assembly was washed away by protests over the amendments of two land acts – Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Act (SPT).
The stalemate between the Government and the Opposition on the twin issues was obvious as both Chief Minister Raghubar Das as well as leader of Opposition Hemant Soren skipped the pre-session all-party meeting called by Speaker Dinesh Oraon at his office on Monday.
“It is a cause of concern that the leader of the House himself does not attend such an important meeting called by the Speaker. Seriousness of the government in the House could be gauged trough this only,” said Jharkhand Vikas Morcha Principal General Secretary Pradeep Yadav. “Seriousness of the House depends on the leader of the House and if the leader himself does not come to the meeting, it is really a cause of concern for all,” he added.
Yadav talking about the strategy of his party in the Assembly also hinted that the opposition was prepared to stall the House over CNT-SPT Acts and domicile.
“We have told the Government that it depends on them whether they want that the House is run smoothly….only they have to do is to rethink over the issue of CNT-SPT Acts and domicile. If they rethink over it, well and good, otherwise our question still remains there as it was there during the last session,” said the JVM leader.
Former Assembly Speaker and Congress MlA Alamgir Alam also asserted that the Government got the bills of CNT SPT Acts passed in haste during the last session which was still being opposed by the Congress.
“We have requested them to take it back, otherwise we will raise our voice after the Governor’s address on Tuesday,” said Alam.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy also asserted that it was the first ever meeting since the State came into being that such a few leaders attended the meeting. The meeting was attended by only five leaders Alamgir Alam, Chandraprakash Chaudhary, Saryu Roy, Pradeep Yadav and the Speaker himself.
“This is the first ever meeting since Jharkhand came into being that such a few leaders attended the pre-session meeting called by Speaker,” said Roy.
Roy further said that they have requested the opposition leaders to allow the House to run in order so that the Governor’s address does not get interrupted.
“Since the CM was in the meeting of Tribal Advisory Council, he could not attend the meeting while the leader of Opposition was in Dumka, hence he had to skip it,” said Roy.
The Budget Session having 16 working days in it, will end on February 7 and the State Government will table the budget on January 23.