Rajasthan Budget session expected to be stormy

Jaipur: The Budget session of Rajasthan assembly beginning next week is likely to be a stormy affair with opposition Congress gearing up to corner the state government on the issues of alleged derogatory remarks by two BJP MLAs and disinvestment of some units of power plants.

While Congress is demanding suspension of BJP MLAs, Kailash Chaudhary and Gyan Dev Ahuja, for their comments, BJP said the opposition members were unnecessarily creating issues in order to impede the assembly session.

"The Budget session will begin on February 29 with the speech of Governor Kalyan Singh. The meeting of Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will take place on the same day to decide the business of the House," Government Chief Whip Kalu Lal Gujar said.

Rajasthan budget of 2016-17 is likely to be presented on March 8 though BAC will finalise the date.

"We expect the session will go smoothly but Congress members are taking up non-issues as their issues. Our two MLAs made comments on Rahul Gandhi who sided with anti-national elements and Congress should reply why he was in support of those who shouted anti-India slogans," Gujar said.

He said Congress should not mislead the people of the state and the nation on the issue.

The two MLAs had recently critised Gandhi for siding with those who raised "anti-national" slogans in JNU. Choudhary had termed Gandhi a "traitor" while Ahuja supported Choudhary for his statement and alleged that the varsity was a den of "sex and alcohol".

"The two BJP MLAs have made derogatory public statements and they should be arrested. Congress will prominently raise this issue in the assembly session along with other issues," Leader of Opposition Rameshwar Dudi said, adding the party has submitted a memorandum to the Governor seeking their arrest.

"We are demanding action against them and if no action is taken before the session begins, we will take up this matter in the Assembly," he said.

Deputy Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chand Meena said the Cabinet's decision to disinvest eight units of Kalisindh and Chhabara thermal power plants will be strongly opposed during the session.

"Due to financial mismanagement of the government, the debt on power companies of the state has risen to about Rs 1 lakh crore which was Rs 66,000 crore in November 2013. Instead of taking steps to contain the losses, the government is going for disinvestment just to benefit private companies which will be against the interest of the state," Meena said.