Gujarat Budget Session to begin on Feb 25

Gandhinagar, Feb 24: Gujarat Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala, who will set a new record by presenting his 13th Budget, will have an uphill task of providing resources to seven cities of the state, who turned poorer by Rs 1,800 crore following the abolition of octroi just before the December elections.

Mr Vala, who will present the 2008-09 Budget to the Vidhan Sabha tomorrow, is expected to take some drastic step in a bid to raise resources to compenstate the loss suffered by the seven cities -- Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara due to octroi abolition.
During the session, Modi Government will table two major bills, including amendment of the Registration Act 1908, making registration of power of attorney relating to the transfer of immovable property compulsory. The bill also seeks to prevent evasion of stamp duty by builders and land traders.

The Gujarat Legislative Assembly Members (Removal of Disqualifications) Act bill will also be tabled during the session. The bill seeks to prevent ministers from being disqualified if they hold office of profit.

The Opposition Congress is likely to take the government to task on the Patan gangrape case in which a Dalit girl was raped by six of her teachers at Patan's Primary Teachers College, and also on the recent power tariff hike.

The Opposition is also expected to raise the issue of giving Deputy Speaker's post to them. The Modi government has, for the first time, mooted a proposal to appoint a deputy chief whip of BJP in the assembly. If the proposal is passed, the deputy chief whip will get perks and facilities given to a deputy minister.

UNI