BJP takes on Virbhadra over Budget proposals

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 25

The BJP today said despite getting a significant hike from the 14th Finance Commission, the state government had failed to come out with a policy and vision for ensuring development of every Assembly segment.

Participating in the debate to discuss the Budget proposals for 2015-16, Ravinder Ravi lamented that despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving more share to the states, Himachal had failed to reflect that spirit in the Budget.

Ravi said it was Virbhadra Singh who started the practice of raising loans with the debt touching an astounding Rs 35,000 crore. “The Budget has no proposals to promote tourism despite this being one of the major sectors of the state,” he said. He added that the law and order situation was poor as drug, mining, forest and land mafia was flouting all norms with impunity.

Participating in the debate, Sarveen Chaudhary said despite getting the second highest devolution among the special category states from the Finance Commission, the Budget was disappointing. “The Chief Minister did not announce any scheme for the welfare of women and their empowerment. She said the Chief Minister did not sound very convincing while presenting the Budget and had probably just performed a formality considering the grim financial health of the state.

Citing the insult meted out to her at the function of the Chief Minister in her Assembly segment of Shahpur in Kangra, she urged the House to rise above political affiliations and restore the privilege and dignity of MLAs, be it from any party.