People's Front calls for budget discussion

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL. 19. Parties favouring a discussion on the Railway and the general Budget today asserted that both the Congress and the Government would be held accountable for rushing it through.

On repeated adjournments of both Houses, there has been some talk of a move to get the Budget passed without discussion, which the constituents of the People's Front have resented. ``In view of the anti-farmer, anti-worker and anti- people content of the Budget, it is imperative that the same is not rushed through. Both the Government and the Congress would be held accountable for rushing through such anti-people measures amidst the facet of shadow-boxing,'' MPs of the Front said. The statement was signed by Prof Ram Gopal Yadav (SP), Mr. Abani Roy (RSP), Mr. Dipankar Mukherjee (CPI-M), Mr. S. R. Bommai (JD-S), and Mr. Drupad Borgohain (CPI).

The Telugu Desam Party said the Congress would have to take the blame for stalling Parliament on the Tehelka expose and not allowing discussion on the budget and other important issues like problems of agriculture sector in the wake of lifting of Quantitative Restrictions, small industries and other related matters. The party was for a discussion on all issues.

Addressing a press conference, the TDP Parliamentary Party leader, Mr. K. Yerran Naidu, charged that the tactics of stalling adopted by the Congress was against democratic norms since Parliament was a forum for all MPs.

Mr. Naidu, who was flanked by other TDP MPs including Dr. S. Venugopalachari, Prof Umareddy Venkateswarulu, Dr. Alladi Rajkumar and Mr. C. Ramachandraiah, targetted the Congress for changing its stance when Parliament resumed sitting this week after a three-week recess.

Meanwhile, a Shiv Sena Parliamentary party delegation led by its leader, Mr. Anant G Geete, today met the Union Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, and suggested some amendments in the Finance Bill and the Budget proposals for inclusion before it is passed.

The suggestions included, restoration of interest rates on small savings, maintaining TDS at current level on interest on income on bank deposits and companies, drop the proposals to raise the limit of employees from 100 to 1,000 to effect lay off, retrenchment and closure of industrial units without government approval, authorise States to export agricultural produce, compulsory publication of accounts by charitable institutions and to change excise duty for textile processing units from existing value base to chamber base.

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Section  : National
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