Oppn, North Mah legislators in beligerent mood over fund allocation

Mumbai, Mar 28 (UNI) The issue of reducing the allocation of funds for North Maharashtra today brought all legislators from the region together, threatening to resign en masse, even as the Opposition announced it will stall legislative proceedings until the government clarified under what directives and pre-conditions the Governor had granted his approval to the Appropriation (Supplementary) Bill.

Addressing a press conference this evening after the Assembly had been adjourned for the day, BJP leader Gopinath Munde, accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ramdas Kadam, accused the government of not being transparent.

''It is hiding some truth. Until the government comes clean on what are the pre-conditions and directives of the Governor before he cleared the bill, we will not allow both the Houses of the legislature to function,'' he said.

Mr Munde said according to the information received by the opposition, the Governor had written a two page letter to the government asking it not to spend Rs 1,041 crore for irrigation as passed during the supplementary demands.

Meanwhile, North Maharashtra legislators have threatened to quit enmasse on the issue of cut in the fund allocation for the region from Rs 385 crore to Rs 100 crore.

Talking to reporters outside the Vidhan Bhavan building, a group of 30 legislators from the region, including Transport Minister Surupsinh Naik, gathered to express solidarity and fight the 'injustice' meted out to the region.

Mr Suresh Jain (NCP), while talking to reporters, said the legislators will call on the Governor tommorrow to seek justice.

UNI MR KD LR DB2012