Nothing special about Budget, says Stokes

Shimla, Mar 7 (UNI) Leader of opposition Vidya Stokes today termed the budget proposals for 2008-2009 as ''nothing special'' with no focus on the unemployed youth.

Talking to mediapersons here, she said the budget was ''below expectations''.

''The Congress was expecting that the BJP Government will come out with something concrete for the unemployed youth in the budget proposals, but it is unfortunate that the government has not laid any emphasis on handling unemployment.'' Ms Stokes said the chief minister was trying to portray a wrong picture by saying that industrial investment worth Rs 3,375 crore had taken place in the state during the previous Congress regime, against the Congress' claim of investment worth Rs 30,000 crore.

''Our government had given the clearance to lot many industries.

And the same were in the process with the employment potential of 2.70 lakh people,'' she clarified.

She said different posts, which the BJP government proposes to fill up were also the ones, most of which had got sanction during the Congress regime.

The Congress would agitate if the medical college at Mandi, which was to be in government sector as per Congress government's decision, was opened in the private sector, she said.

The CLP leader said the previous government almost planned to lay the foundation stone for the Government Medical college in Mandi, but the same could not be accomplished because of early announcement of elections and code of conduct coming into force the same day.

She said she was happy with the BJP government's commitment to encourage the sports and sportspersons, but it remains to be seen whether the government implements all what it says.

The government would have provided good coaches in the state, she added.

UNI AS HS GL RK1940