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| Baig says budget full of loopholes, rubbishes figures as unreal, imaginative | | |
KUNAL SHRIVATSA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 8:
A day after presentation of Budget by the Finance Minister AR Rather it was the turn of his predecessor Muzaffar Hussain Baig to analyse it critically while dissecting the components of the budget in a detailed manner.
Taking a dig at the National Conference led coalition government in general and Finance Minister A R Rather in particular, the senior Peoples’ Democratic Party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig termed the state Budget based on hypothetical figures which are far from reality and do not reflect the real picture of the state economy.
Launching a scathing attack on Finance Minister, Baig said, “Finance Minister Saheb Ki Speech Mein Teen Irshad Aur Baki Sirf Afsana Hai (The Finance Minister’s speech contains three couplets and rest is imagination only.)
While taking part in the discussion on the budget proposals, PDP leader minced no words in cautioning Finance Minister that his party would not support the imaginary figures projected in the Budget.
Baig quetioned as to why facts have been distorted to portray the state economy in an unreal manner.
In his well thought-out speech clubbed with arguments and statistical data, Baig exposed the loop holes in the budget documents, Economic Survey Report 2010-11 and claimed that the budget has no major initiatives, suggestions as well as guidelines to give a new direction to the state’s economy, which is in shambles.
He said that the Finance Minister should have taken bold initiatives to improve the financial position of the state as it is his responsibility to take the state out of woods and from the economic mess it is grappling with rather than painting a glowing picture.
“Finance Minister in his speech himself admitted that our financial position is in critical condition and we are far behind in comparison to the economies of the other states.” Baig maiinatined
Quoting Truman Muzaffar Baig said, “If you can not take the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
Baig asserted that if the state government failed to take certain corrective measures to resurrect the state economy we would end up having nothing in our plan outlay to spend on developmental projects in the coming years.
“Whatever we are getting as financial assistance from the Centre should be used judiciously as it is money of crores of Tax payers and not the personal wealth of Dr Manmohan Singh or Vajpayee Saheb.”
Hitting out at Finance Minister, Baig said when all major indicators of the state economy and crucial sectors are recording a downward trend while the state’s debt is swelling day by day how it can be presumed that the economy of the state is growing.
He warned that if things remained the same, Jammu and Kashmir could not avoid a debt trap which would ruin it completely.
Reminding the state Finance Minister how Omar Abdullah government has failed to carry on with the power reform project Baig asked Rather that as a Finance Minister he was not exercising your authority. "Please take action and see that why proper utilisation of funds is not taking place on the ground", he
said adding accountability should be fixed and it should be looked upon that the state economy is in shape otherwise it will be too late to plead our case before Central Government.
“Ek Waqt Ayga Itna Unko (Central Government) Dena Nahin Hoga Jitna Yahan Se Lena Hoga (Due to the growing debts centre would give less and take more from us in the days to come.)” Baig quipped
Baig retorted that almost all the sectors in the state are facing a worse situation be it agriculture, power or the industries.
The recoveries are not showing remarkable improvement yet the figures have been deliberately misinterpreted while the ground reality is completely opposite to it.
Calling upon Finance Minister to freely seek their help if they deemed fit in taclkling several financial matters, Baig said we are always ready to bail you out from a crisis situation and suggest ideas which can really help the state government plead its case with the centre but unfortunately every time we intended elements in the system say it can not be done without taking Hurriyat leaders into confidence.
“Who are they and what they have to do with the issue. Let them join the mainstream and they claim their presence on board.” Baig said
“Let us face the reality and walk hand in hand to address the problems of all the three regions of the state. We are ready to help provided you are doing something for the people.” he added
Referring to the achievements mentioned in the budget document Baig asked Rather to clarify how the Mughal Road project and the Katra-Qazigund rail line have been projected as major development initiatives in the state budget document when these are centrally sponsored schemes.
He further said the Sawlakote power project was cleared by the former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah and renegotiations were done previous regimes including PDP’s then how Omar Abdullah government claimed credit for the same.
Reciting a Urdu couplet, Baig said, “Hairan Hoon Dil Ko Roun, Ya Pitoon Jigar Main.” referring to the ‘achievements’ of NC led coalition government
While questioning the rationale behind surrendering the autonomy of the J&K Bank and signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) without taking the state assembly into confidence, Baig said how can you do it when RBI
Act is not applicable in the state due to the Article 370.
Baig ended his speech quoting another Urdu couplet, “Ek Ek Karke Na Jalao Umeedon Ke Chirag, Tum Khud Hi Bhujaoge Yeh Umeedon Ke Chirag.”
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