UP tables supplementary budget, BJP opposes

UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday tabled the supplementary budget of ` 14,856.13 crores for 201415 in both Houses of the state legislature. Mr Yadav, who is also the state finance minister, tabled the supplementary budget in the state Assembly while UP health minister and leader of the house in the council Ahmed Hassan tabled the budget in the Legislative Council. The BJP opposed the supplementary budget tabled by the Samajwadi Party government through point of proprietary saying that the annual Budget was passed on July 7 to the tune of ` 2 lakh crores and there was no reason the government has to take the supplementary budget. BJP member Satish Mahana raised the issue after the chief minister tabled the Budget saying that the government has not clarified the reason for seeking a supplementary Budget when the house has passed the full Budget just four months back.

The BJP also charged the state of not paying heed to the problems of the cane growers. The BSP legislators also targeted the state government in both the Assembly and the state council, and accused it of failing in maintaining law and order. Mr Hassan said the BSP was attacking the state government as many of its leaders were being prosecuted for corruption and some have even landed in jail. Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey said the members can raise their issue during the debate before the passage of the supplementary budget. It may be recalled that on July 7, 2014, 60 departmental budgets were passed by voice votes along with the appropriation bills amounting to over ` 2 lakh crores. Meanwhile, in the supplementary Budget, the chief minister has set aside ` 670 crores for Lohia Awas Yojana and ` 427 crores for the cashstrapped UP Power Corporation. He has earmarked a sum of ` 25 crore for the beautification of Lucknow and ` 100 crore for the Lucknow- Agra expressway.