Last budget session of 13th Gujarat Legislative Assembly off to a stormy start

Gandhinagar: The last budget session of the 13 th Gujarat Legislative Assembly today went off to a ‘stormy’ start s expected and amid the uproarious scene created by black cloth clad members of main opposition Congress, Governor O P Kohli had to cut short his traditional address.

Congress MLA’s wearing black attire to protest the Naliya rape case went in to the well of the house as soon as it assembled. They were shouting slogans and throwing papers. Governor Kohli cut short his speech and completed the formality of his address in just around six minutes amid chaos. Speaker Ramanlal Vora had to adjourn the proceedings for around half an hour.

Later Chief Minister Vijay Rupani moved the motion on vote of thanks. He also moved a traditional motion of condolences on the first day of the session in which the death of former Tamilnadu chief minister J Jayalalitha, ex minister of Gujarat Gabhaji Thakor and other former members including Bholabhai Patel, Laxman Aagath and Shirish Shukla was condoled by the house.

The Congress MLA’s also shouted slogans outside the house. Earlier during the entry, they were thoroughly checked as a precautionary measure.

Deputy Chief Minister cum Finance Minister Nitin Patel will present the annual budget of the Vijay Rupani government on the second day ie February 21.

This will be the first budget under Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who took over the reigns from his predecessor Anandiben Patel after her resignation in August last year.

The session will continue till March 31 and there will be a total of 26 working days and 28 sittings (excluding holidays). At least nine bills including the one regarding the stricter new amended prohibition law (for which an ordinance was promulgated earlier) would be introduced by the government.These nine are the Tribal University Bill, Tribal Development Corporation Share Capital Bill, Town Planning Act Amendment Bill, Gujarat Panchayat Act Amendment Bill, Gujarat Urban Land Ceiling Act Amendment Bill, Former MLA Medical Allowance Bill, Gujarat Prohibition Amendment Act, Gujarat Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Amendment Bill, Maritime Board Amendment Bill and Gujarat Organic University Bill.

Apart from these, discussions are likely to take place on 12 non-government bills which had already been introduced during earlier sessions.

Meanwhile, as the assembly polls in the state are due to be held by December this year, the budget is likely to have many populist provisions including some tax sops.
On the other hand the main opposition Congress which seems desperate to take up any issue against the BJP government with an eye on the polls and had taken out a rally to protest the Naliya rape case has announced to gherao the assembly today after a meeting at the Satyagrah Chhavni ground here.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the session and in the wake of the Congress’ gherao programme.

Over 2000 security personnel including 6 companies of SRP have been deployed here.

DeshGujarat