The Hindu : Budget Session: A show of camaraderie

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 02, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

Budget Session: A show of camaraderie

By S. Nadarajan

Pondicherry May 1. Camaraderie between the ruling Congress and the opposition block marked the budget session of the Pondicherry Assembly which adjourned sine die on Wednesday after transacting scheduled business for 22 days.

The positive attitude the Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy and his colleagues showed towards the DMK, the main opposition on some occasions reflected a new political trend.

A private member resolution tabled by the Leader of the Opposition, R. V. Janakiraman (DMK) on April 30 to urge the Centre to declare Tamil as a classical language was implicitly converted into a Government resolution.

The Chief Minister said that he was fully impressed with the purpose of the resolution which was adopted unanimously without any discussion by the House.

Incomplete replies from officials

The session often witnessed criticism by the ruling and opposition members against officials during the question-hour for providing ``incorrect and incomplete'' replies.

A few DMK members pointed out that it was no good if the government continued to remain content with the situation.

The erring officials could be called to the House for an explanation, they contended. The Speaker also referred to the pathetic plight of the Government whenever it received incomplete replies from the officials.

Former Chief Minister, V. Vaithilingam pointed out that unless the locals were given postings sufficiently in all key posts things would not improve. The Assembly Secretariat itself was lacking full powers and members said that it should be made an autonomous wing without being left to remain at the mercy of the General Administration Department. The former Speaker, V. M. C, Sivakumar (DMK) suggested that a delegation of legislators and Ministers could meet the President and seek his intervention to ensure full constitutional powers to the elected Government.

With almost all sections of government employees getting their demands cleared at the end of agitations or dharnas, the question arises how a Chief Minister who presented a tax-free budget would be able to meet the commitment.

The Union Territory is already reeling under the impact of uniform sales tax and there is a strong opposition to the implementation of the Value Added Tax.

Though the ruling Congress, the AIADMK and other members had urged the Government to declare Pondicherry also a drought-hit area, citing monsoon failure and farmers' plight, Mr. Rangasamy rejected the plea saying that the situation in Pondicherry was not so grim.

He referred to the parameters that ought to be applied before taking a decision to declare drought.

The Agriculture department was providing help to farmers, he said.

The sanction of approval to the Government to raise the quota of reservation for the OBC from 27 to 33 percent in making jobs available and for admission to educational institutions and increase in funds for constituency development programmes in response to the pleas of the MLAs were some of the important decisions taken at the session.

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