In a fluid House,Lalu floats BJP demand

In the run-up to the elections,the BJP and JDU had demanded that the government hold a probe into the black money held by Indians abroad. But during the discussion on the Budget in the House on Thursday,senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi as well as JDU leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan made no mention of it.

It was Lalu who raised the matter,citing a commitment made in this regard by the government in the speech made by the President,as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee looked on quietly. Whether it is the BJP,we or you,we all are concerned about black money stashed in Swiss banks. We should try to find out who all have money there, he said.

It appears that our quest for inquiry has gone slow on this matter since I have left the government, Lalu said,cajoling Mukherjee to go the extra mile on the matter. At least we can find out who all have withdrawn their money. The government should easily get this information. You should try8230; Then you would also get into the ranks of V P Singh who took the lead in raising the Bofors scandal.

Earlier,the RJD and SP had criticised the Railways and General Budget despite their support to the government. Mulayam had called the Budget pro-corporate and anti-farmer.

While Lalu extended his support to the Budget,he hinted that the government should be ready for criticism from his side. This the first Budget. I am extending my support. But,I will also criticise your government sometime later. There should be some healthy criticism, said Lalu,summing up his speech.

With the RJD tally dipping from 24 to four in the current Lok Sabha,Lalu also brought up issues with an eye on his support base,asking the government to look into demands for extending reservation to Pasmanda Muslims,as suggested in the Ranganath Mishra committee report.

He urged the Finance Minister to prepare for drought while advising him to address price rise and job losses due to the economic slowdown.

With the JDU making it an issue,Lalu also demanded help for Bihar in Kosi relief as well as a special status for the state.

Earlier,initiating the discussion on the Budget,BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi extended a warm hand to the government to partner it in bringing the country back to 9 per cent growth. You have set a 9 per cent economic growth target and a 4 per cent growth target for agriculture. It is ambitious. If you ensure this,it will be a miracle, Joshi said. If you need any assistance to bring the economy on the right track for helping farmers and restoring the position of agriculture to where it was,we are ready to help.

Joshi,who did not take up the issue of reforms,however,questioned the governments plans in sectors like agriculture,poverty alleviation,price rise,social security and health,and rising unemployment.