The Opposition at the State Assembly on Friday looked to be playing its ‘literal’ role while presenting arguments against the Supplementary Budget presented by the new Government. Members of the Opposition, including those from the JMM, JVM and Congress, raised serious doubts over the intentions of the Government for seeking such huge money just two-three months ahead of the main Budget. However, with the ruling coalition expressing its resolve to spend the money for development of the State, the budget was finally approved by the House with a majority of legislators supporting it.
JVM legislature Party leader Pradeep Yadav raised serious questions on the motive of the Government for demanding about Rs1,500 crore for energy department, out of which he said, Rs399 crore are being shown as legal expenses. Yadav questioned the government as to why such a huge amount of money was needed by the energy department for legal expenses. Yadav also raised questions on the demands put up by many other departments such as the PWD, which he said, was an extravagant department spending crores. Yadav said that despite huge spending by the department, the condition of roads remains the same.
JMM leader Ravindra Nath Mahto and others also questioned the need of such amount in the budget, however, BJP MlAs Nirbhay Shahabadi and RK Kishore defended the government stating that it has to pay a huge amount of money as repayment of debt to power companies and the legal expenses are high because of the outstanding issues related to power in which fees of senior counsels in several lakhs are paid.
Speaking as Opposition leader former CM Hemant Soren on Friday questioned the government whether it can guarantee that the funds would be used by the end of this financial year. He stated that the intentions of the government were dubious as it may be working for the interests of a particular group of people. Without naming anybody Soren also leveled allegations on the CM and the government for favouring multinational steel major.
Speaking for the government on behalf of the CM, Parliamentary Affairs Minister CP Singh said that there was absolutely no hidden agenda behind seeking the funds in the budget. “We want to develop industries, bring employment opportunities, improve fiscal situation of the State and as a legacy, we just have penury from the previous government,” he said.
“This government has to work more because of the failures of the previous government. We need the funds for development till the month of March. This is a basic necessity of the State. People’s aspirations are there and we have to fulfill them,” he added. Taking a dig at Pradeep Yadav’s argument that the ruling coalition has just 35 per cent vote share in the House, Singh said that the 65 per cent vote share logic of the Opposition is baseless in the system. “We have a stable and strong government for the first time in Jharkhand and we should cherish this rather than crying over the spilt milk,” he added.
The Opposition leader, meanwhile, upped its ante against the Government, bringing Censure Motion against the CM for not taking part in the “crucial session” of the House. The Motion though got rejected by the Speaker, who after passing the Budget declared the House sine die.