Shimla, June 28: BJP's Himachal Pradesh unit today described the state's budget for 2003-04 as "anti-people" with no direction for growth and development. Imposition of fresh taxes on diesel, chemical fertilisers, cement and other commodities and 100 per cent increase in market fee on agricultural produce would not only crush farmers and the working class but also add to inflation and result in overall price rise, BJP spokesman Ganesh Dutt told reporters here. Attacking the state government, he said the first gift of the congress government was 25 per cent increase in bus fare followed by fresh taxes announced in the June 26 budget.

Dutt said the budget would retard growth as more budgetary provisions have been made for meeting the committed liabilities like payment of salaries, pension, interest, maintenance, daily wages and repayment of loans. The actual funds available for development were too meagre to accelerate the pace of development, he said. Dutt accused Chief Minister V B Singh of quoting those figures in the budget speech which were different from the actual budget. He said while the revised budget estimate for 2003-04 was Rs 6664.32 crore, the figure quoted in the budget speech was Rs 6115 crore.

Dutt also criticised the government for its proposal to revive lotteries and said the government was playing a "costly gamble" with the people of the state. The BJP would oppose the move and press for a judicial enquiry into the functioning of lotteries in the state in the past.


Bureau Report