Himachal budget session begins Friday

The defeat of the Congress in the recently concluded assembly elections has boosted the morale of the faction-ridden ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh, ahead of the budget session beginning Friday.

The BJP, set to make the most out of the development, is aiming to leave no stone unturned to highlight its achievements during the 29-day session.

“We are ready to reply each and every question of the opposition Congress. Of course, it’s an occasion to highlight the government achievements of four years,” Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said.

He said the humiliating defeat of the Congress in three out of the five states has exposed its anti-people policies.

Assembly elections are due in the state later this year and the state BJP feels that the poll results in neighbouring Punjab and Uttarakhand would have a positive effect on the forthcoming polls.

The Congress, also plagued by infighting, is ready to grill the government over “selling” the state to non-Himachalis by granting them permission to buy huge chunks of land after bypassing the laid-down land laws.

“We will pin down the government over controversial issues like ‘benami’ land deals, allowing private universities to set up base, forest violations in eco-tourism projects and permission granted to realtors,” Congress chief Kaul Singh said.

“The government is accountable for all its acts of commission and omission both within the house and in the court of the people,” he added.

Unlike previous budget sessions, there is no recess for the scrutiny of the demands by the standing committees of the house this time.

The state budget, likely to be populist in the election year, will be presented March 19 and passed March 30 after seven days of debate.