The Hindu : Krishna promises pro-people Budget

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Krishna promises pro-people Budget

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Feb. 24. The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, today indicated that the coming State Budget would be pro-people, with the emphasis on appropriate measures for the welfare of farmers, rural people, and the common man.

He told presspersons here that the three Budgets presented by him so far had been pro-people, although the emphasis on certain aspects would be more this time. The State was reeling under a drought which had put farmers to serious difficulties. Apart from this, there were certain shortcomings in the mobilisation of taxes. All these would be addressed in the Budget likely to be presented in the second week of March.

Mr. Krishna, referring to the charges levelled by a section of Opposition leaders that the State was on the verge of bankruptcy, said his reply to such statements would be contained in the Budget. The Government had not sought an overdraft from the Reserve Bank of India for the past three years. Raising resources and effectively utilising them for various requirements was a challenging task for any Government. This task had been deftly handled by the State Government so far.

The Chief Minister, who has been participating in pre-Budget discussions with senior colleagues in the Cabinet and with Finance Ministry officials, said the Cabinet would finalise the date for the presentation of the Budget on Tuesday.

The budget session of the Legislature would commence on Thursday with a joint session to be addressed by the Governor, T.N. Chaturvedi, his first address after taking charge in the State.

Mr. Krishna said that compared to the earlier practice, when the whole budget-making exercise was shrouded in secrecy, the scene was now different in the light of globalisation and liberalisation.

Humnabad bypoll

On the prospects of the Congress candidate, Rajashekar Patil, in the byelection from Humnabad Assembly constituency, the Chief Minister exuded confidence that the Congress candidate would win. "I do not know whether our rival is the BJP candidate, Subash Kallur, or the JD(S) candidate and former minister, Mirajuddin Patel. The whole scenario is still hazy and a clear picture is yet to emerge. The President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, Janardhana Poojary, and I have extensively campaigned in the constituency and we have had a positive response from the voters. The Opposition parties have made several charges against the State Government during the course of the election campaign and the reply to all this will be given by the voters themselves."

Border row

Asked about the border issue with Maharashtra, which was again raked up in recent weeks, the Chief Minister said the State Government would stand by the resolution of the Legislature calling for total implementation of the Mahajan Commission report. Despite the fact that the Congress was also in power in the Maharashtra, the State Government believed in upholding the interests of the State first. "When issues pertaining to sharing of river waters or the border come to the fore, it is necessary to rise above party interests."

Mr. Krishna said he would talk to the Maharashtra Chief Minister once again seeking the release of 1.5 tmcft of water from the Koyna Dam for drinking water purposes. "I have spoken to him twice and have also written to him in this connection. I will call him up once again today."

The Chief Minister said the Ministry reshuffle exercise would have to be shelved for the present on account of the coming budget session of the Legislature. It could be done only be after the session. The nomination of three persons to fill vacancies in the Legislative Council would, however, be done during the course of the session. The Deputy Chairman of the Council would also be elected during the session, he said.

Mr. Krishna appreciated the intervention of the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, to clear the hurdles in the way of the international airport project at Devanahalli and expressed confidence that work would commence soon. Amendments to the Airport Authority of India Act, the lack of which had stalled the construction of the airport, would be placed before Parliament shortly, he added.

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