K'taka Assembly passes Budget estimates by voice vote

Bangalore, Mar 29: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly today passed by voice vote the Budget estimates for the year 2006-07, amidst noisy scenes and walkout by the Opposition members.

As soon as Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, completed his reply on the general discussion on the budget, the opposition members sought certain clarifications.

Dissatisfied with Mr Yediyurappa's reply, the Congress members, led by their leader N Dharam Singh, staged a walkout, stating that the budget lacked vision and programmes for the weaker sections of the society.

Earlier, Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj staged a walkout protesting against the government's policy reflected in the budget.

When the House took up consequential Bills related to the budget, Janata Dal (United) J C Madhuswamy and Communist Party of India (Marxists) leader Srirama Reddy took exception to the Karnataka Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill and contended that it had nothing to do with the budget.

Though Mr Yediyurappa tried to convince the members that the Bill was brought keeping in view some aspects already mentioned in the budget, they insisted that he explain its salient features or re-introduce it after a thorough preparation.

However, Speaker Krishna put the Bill to voice vote after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said it was only a consequential Bill and urged the members to cooperate with the government in ensuring its passage.

Angered by the Speaker's decision, Mr Madhuswamy and Mr Reddy threw the copy of the Bill and walked out of the House. They were joined by the Congress members and Mr Nagaraj, who came back into the House when the Bills were taken up. They also shouted slogans against the government before leaving the House.

WALKOUT

Earlier, in his 90-minute reply, Mr Yediyurappa announced that the new ruling Janata Dal (Secular) and Bharaitya Janata Party coalition set up would not give up any welfare programme initiated by the previous government. The government was keen on additional resources mobilisation and ensuring alround development of the state, he added.

Owing allegience to the Sangh Parivar for his present position, he said there was no hidden agenda as alleged by Mr Singh. The only agenda before the government was development. The new government's budget had increased the financial allocation to various departments, ranging from 12 per cent to over 300 per cent, he added.

Mr Yediyurappa said the government had earmarked Rs 30 crore for setting up circuit benches of the Karnataka High Court in Gulbarga and Hubli and was ready to provide additional funds, if necessary.

It had also earmarked Rs 39 crore for completion of buildings to start six medical colleges, besides setting apart an additional Rs 30 crore for improving facilities at the government Bowring and Victoria hospitals in the city. Erring doctors would be severely dealt with, he added.

He said the government had earmarked Rs 10 crore for upgradation of hospitals in 39 backward taluks of the state and would accord top priority to setting up well-equipped 100-bed hospitals at taluk levels.

Mr Yediyurappa said the 11-point vision enunciated by President A P J Abdul Kalam for the development of the state would be implemented in a phased manner and the government had earmarked Rs 550 crore for the purpose for the current year.

He said the government would set up a top-level committee headed by Developmental Commissioner to ensure implementation of recommendations of the Nanjundappa committee for development of North Karnataka. Review meetings of various departments would be held once in three months by the Chief Minister and himself, he added.

He also announced a grant of Rs one crore to each of the legislators and said the guidelines followed by the members of the Parliament was applicable to the MLAs. Of the one crore, the MLAs should ensure that Rs 50 lakh was spent for roads, he added.

UNI