Amid pandemonium and adjournments, the Jharkhand Assembly on Tuesday passhed annual budget of Rs 63502.69 crore for financial year 2016-17 with Rs 37065.35 crore of plan size. Earlier, Opposition members did not allow it to function whole day. legislators from the JMM and the JVM protested with posters and sought slogans demanding domicile and employment policy for the State.
As soon as the House met in the morning, the members flashed their placards supporting the demand. Even leader of Opposition Hemant Soren joined the chorus blaming the Government for depriving local educated unemployed youth of jobs.
“We brought the Adjournment Motion over the issue which has not been allowed. What we want that adivasi-moolvasi youths get jobs as vacancies are getting filled. The Government should bring a Bill on this matter and if required, business of the House be extended further,” Hemant Soren said. This prompted some of the BJP members who demanded probe into the reported Panem coal mine scam.
As the tug of war continued, Chief Minister Raghubar Das intervened. “Governments come and go in democracy but there are some basic policies of the State. We have had some meetings for framing domicile and employment policies involving all political parties, social groups and intellectuals.Parties have been told to submit their opinion in writing. At present also, only locals are getting jobs here. But the larger question is that the Arjun Munda Government was pulled down on three issues and one of them was domicile policy. You came to power and forgot it but we remember it very well,” said the CM provoking the Opposition even further leading to two back to back adjournments.
later, JVM’s Pradeep Yadav while speaking to the media outside, reiterated the demand. “Domicile policy is need of the hour for the State. locals are suffering in its absence. No politics should be played over it. The CM had himself set deadline of April 30 but backtracked. Only excuses are not going to do as you are in the Government now. Attitude of the Government hints to some foul play involved,” said the legislator. Congress MlA Irfan Ansari put an ultimatum of 10 days to roll out the policy.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy pleaded the loP to express his views in this regard when the House resumed post-lunch. “Discussion on demand for grants for nine Departments is listed. You can say what you want to say during your speech and the Government is ready to respond at the end,” said the Minister but of no use.
lastly, Speaker Dinesh Oraon put the demand for grants of Personnel Department and others for vote followed by passing the annual budget of Rs 63502.69 crore for financial year 2016-17 with Rs 37065.35 crore of plan size.