Inherited financial chaos from NC: Drabu

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 3

Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu today attacked the Opposition National Conference (NC) for state’s financial mismanagement in the past over 60 years while demanding 60 months to bring it back on track.

“I have inherited financial mismanagement from you (National Conference) and   we need to undo this. At least, give me 60 months to bring it back on track,” Drabu said while concluding the discussion on the Budget in J&K Legislative Council.

Drabu said that he had tried to build systems in the Budget which would not only serve him, but also his successors, whoever they may be.

“It will serve the government and god willing it will serve society,” he said.

The Finance Minister hit out at the NC for engaging 60,000 casual labourers and not paying them salary.

“You have destroyed 60,000 families. And I am not talking of finance here, it is not a financial issue. For me, it is a social problem. Around 60,000 families have suffered, some marriages have ended,” the Finance Minister said.

Saying the tax on aviation fuel had no relation to airfares, he said, “You have talked about (tax on) aviation fuel and that it will impact tourism. How? The tax is 25 per cent in Delhi also. Last year, I had rolled it back thinking two things will happen. One, the airlines will do re-fuelling here and, two, airfares will fall. But nothing happened. It has no relation with airfares. They do not re-fuel here and the airfare did not come down.” On the increase in the tax, Drabu said that everyone was ready to take money, but not give it.

“You (legislators) want Seventh Pay Commission but do you realise where will this money come from? It is easy to say that it should be given. From where will this money come? You are pained if there is even a one per cent increase in toll tax. Everyone is ready to take, but not to give. How will the state run? We have to get money from somewhere,” he said.

The Assembly later passed the grants of finance, culture and labour & employment for the year 2016-17 by a voice vote.

Replying to the demand of grants in the Assembly,  the Finance Minister said the new fiscal policy would tackle corruption, boost entrepreneurship and provide succour to the marginalised sections of society in the state.

“At a time when market forces are pushing marginalised sections of society further, the government has to have a humane face. It’s with this vision that the new fiscal policy has been revised to provide relief to those people who feel left out of the system,” Drabu said.

In his reply to the discussion on demands of grants for the departments under his charge, the minister said the Budget would infuse confidence in the market, tackle corruption and give a new direction to the J&K’s economy, he said.