Jharkhand's budget passed sans Opposition

Ranchi, Mar 22 (UNI) Jharkhand Finance Minister Stephen Marandi today defended his budget for the next fiscal, saying its thrust on rural areas and pro-poor policies were aimed at ensuring that another ''Nadigram-type'' incident did not occur in this state.

Mr Marandi said this before the budget was passed by voice vote in absence of the Opposition, who boycotted it earlier in the day protesting the shortening of the session by five days and allowing only a day for debate and passing of the budget.

Mr Marandi, also the Deputy Chief Minister, came down heavily on the Opposition's attitude, saying they either did not understand his plan for a better Jharkhand or they could not find fault in it.

''Bereft of issues to corner the treasury, they left the House,'' he said and regretted that he did not get any constructive criticism or suggeStion from them.

The state Finance Minister said his thrust on the rural areas and the government's emphasis on coming out with special package on rehabilitation policy would be so attractive that the UPA government would not allow ''Nadigram-type'' incident in this state.

He said in the past six years he had seen budgets presented mostly by the BJP-led NDA governments, which were full of ''errors'' and this one had been framed keeping in mind all the ''lapses'' committed by his predecessors.

Criticising the Opposition boycott, he said when he was the Leader of Opposition, he used to come up with ideas and suggestion and criticism as and when required.

Mr Marandi said he did not get any suggestion from the Opposition this time.

He, however, appealed to them to cooperate with the government that its schemes were implemented in true spirit.

After his speech, Speaker Alamgir Alam announced that as the session was shortened by five days, all 52 items to be taken by were passed by voice vote.

UNI