Gujarat Assembly’s budget session from June 29

The month-long budget session will see a four-day general debate on the budget and a six-day discussion on department-wise budgetary demands.

The state government will also bring several official and private member Bills in the Assembly during the budget session.

Meanwhile,the Congress Legislature Party (CLP),at its meeting held on the Assembly premises on Friday,discussed and chalked out a strategy to “corner” the ruling BJP during the coming budget session by raising several burning issues in the state.

Leader of the Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil told Newsline that some of the issues the Congress will raise in the House include the Modi Government’s apathy towards a large number of jobless diamond workers,the government’s anti-farmer policy,exorbitant sops being doled out to a select few industrialists and the government delaying the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendations for its employees.

The Congress will also raise a demand for reducing the rates of Value-Added Tax (VAT),which were much higher than those in other states. Gohil alleged rampant corruption in the functioning of state-owned public sector enterprises (PSEs),and deteriorating law and order situation in the state. “We will highlight these issues in the House in the coming session.”

The Congress’ newly-elected 11 MPs,including Union Ministers — Dinsha Patel,Bharat Solanki and Tushar Chaudhary — were felicitated by the party MLAs and senior leaders at the CLP meeting. The ministers assured that they would do everything that is required for the development of the state.