Congress to 'corner' BJP govt in Gujarat on various issues in Budget Session

Ahmedabad: Congress in Gujarat on Tuesday decided to “corner” the Anandiben Patel-led BJP government on floor of Legislative Assembly in the forthcoming budget session on a string of issues including “deteriorating law and order situation and corruption”.

The Congress Legislature Party on Tuesday met under the opposition leader Shankersinh Vaghela at Gandhinagar to devise a strategy for the session beginning on 22 February.

The state budget for 2016-17 will be presented on 23 February in the session that will conclude on 31 March.

“Among other issues, Congress has decided to raise issues related to rampant corruption, water scarcity in Saurashtra region, deteriorating law and order situation in the state, inflation, and issues concerning dalits, tribals and OBCs,” the Congress stated in a release.

For effective representation of these issues, the Congress MLAs will consult various community leaders as well as party office-bearers of various regions to prepare the issue-based strategy, it added.

Vaghela announced that Congress will bring a Private Member Bill proposing a separate 20 percent reservation for Economically Weaker Classes (EBCs) who are not covered under present quotas for SCs, STs and OBCs.

Citing a resolution passed in the All India Speaker’s Conference held at Gandhinagar last month, Vaghela stated the House should be in session for at least 60 days in a year.

“As per that resolution, House should meet for at least 60 days in a year. But, this is not followed in Gujarat as this session will be of only 26 days (actual sitting). We will also raise this issue and demand that the budget session must be called for at least 40 days,” Vaghela told reporters after the meeting.

PTI