Resolution seeking extension of Central industrial package up to 2020 passed

Now,instead of asking the Centre to restore the package period to its original time-frame — till 2013 — the BJP government wants the package to be extended to 2020,claiming that the increase of the period in a piecemeal manner would not benefit the state since enough time had already been lost.

The resolution introduced by Industries Minister Krishan Kapoor was passed by the House in the absence of the Congress,which had staged a walkout over delay in initiating action on a privilege notice served by a party MLA. The party had earlier assured support to the government in demanding extension of the package to 2013. Outside the House,PCC president Kaul Singh Thakur,however,said the Congress did not support the resolution that sought extension of the package till 2020.

“As a matter of policy,we are for extension up to 2013,as was proposed. How can the BJP suddenly raise the demand for extension to 2020—which they know can’t be done? In fact,the Congress has already been taken up the matter with the Central leadership for allowing industrial incentives up to 2013,” he added.

Earlier,Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had taken exception to the Opposition’s “boycott” of the resolution.

Moving the resolution,Kapoor said the CM had been persistently raising the issue with the Centre. “I have also held meetings with two Union ministers from the state—Virbhadra Singh and Anand Sharma—to ask for the Central tax holidays up to 2013. But there has been no response till now. The government has hence chosen to bring in a resolution to take up the issue with the Centre afresh,” he added.