Stormy Budget session on the cards in Delhi Assembly today

NEW DELHI: The Budget session of Delhi Assembly is all set to begin on Friday on a stormy note, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party planning to corner each other over several issues, such as the ongoing sealing drive and the government-bureaucracy tussle.

The government will table its annual Budget in the House on March 22.

Meanwhile, AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said that he would move a resolution on Friday asking the Centre to stop the sealing drive, which is likely to be passed by the Assembly.

Bharadwaj said he has also submitted a notice for short discussion on the issue on Friday.

“I will move a resolution demanding that the Centre either pass an ordinance or bring moratorium on the sealing of commercial establishments, as it has done in the case of unauthorised colonies,” the Greater Kailash MLA said.

The Budget Session will commence with the speech of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal in the morning on the achievements and plans of the AAP government.

In the afternoon, the House will again sit and most likely witness a heated debate.

Conventionally, the first day of the Budget session concludes after the LG'S speech.

However, Friday's session will last throughout the day, following submission of notices by legislators from both the ruling AAP and Opposition BJP for discussions and resolutions on sealing issues.

The formal sitting of the House will commence at 2.00 pm.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said that BJP MLAS will bring an adjournment motion on a number of issues, including sealing and the government's tussle with bureaucrats.

"The Opposition will expose the government's double face and indulgence in politics on the sensitive issue of sealing, collapse of governance due to mistrust with the bureaucracy and unauthorised continuation of Kailash Gehlot as Minister despite cancellation of his membership...," Gupta, the Rohini MLA, said in a statement.

According to a statement issued by the Assembly Secretariat, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will present the 2018-19 Budget on March 22 and on March 19 table the Economic Survey of Delhi.

The statement added that Sisodia will present the 'Outcome Budget" on March 20, where the House will be informed about the deadline of projects carried out by various departments.

In its Budget, described by AAP as the "green budget" , the government is likely to introduce a subsidy scheme for households that shift to Cngbased generator sets.

An official said that around 20 proposals will be mentioned in the Deputy CM'S Budget speech.

The government has already announced several measures in its upcoming 'budget', including the promotion of Cngbased generators, third party audit of polluting industries and their switchover to Piped Natural Gas.