Budget session from today

CHANDIGARH, July 20: The Haryana Assembly Budget session beginning here tomorrow is likely to witness fireworks, with the main opposition...

CHANDIGARH, July 20: The Haryana Assembly Budget session beginning here tomorrow is likely to witness fireworks, with the main opposition parties, Haryana Lok Dal (Rashtriya) and Congress (I), planning to give a tough to the Bansi Lal government.

The opposition MLAs are preparing to grill the state government on the law and order situation, power tariff hike, withdrawal of prohibition, alleged irregularities in police recruitment and its failure to implement the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission regarding a hike in pay and allowances.

The Finance Minister, Charan Dass Shorewala will present the Budget for present the Budget for 1998-99 on the opening day of the session, levying new taxes to raise funds. The opposition parties are not too pleased with the decision to present the Budget on the opening day and may protest against this. The Budget speech will be telecast live by Doordarshan. It is for the first time that proceedings of the state assembly will be telecast live.

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While the HVP-BJP alliance is planning to highlight its success in getting extra power from the Centre, the HLD(R) is likely to give a tough time to the government on alleged bungling in police recruitments and the prolonged strike by nurses in the state. The Congress (I) – though without the services of wily Bhajan Lal – appears set to attack the government on issues such as power shortage, withdrawal of prohibition and the deteriorating law and order situation.

According to the tentative programme, the House will discuss 1993-94 excess demands on July 22 while non-official business will be conducted on July 23. Discussion on Budget will be held on July 24. The Budget debate will be resumed on July 25 and 26. The Finance Minister will reply to the Budget debate on July 27. The Appropriation Bill in respect of the 1993-94 excess demands will be introduced in the House on July 28. While Appropriation Bill in respect of the budgetary proposals will be introduced on July 29.