Assembly okays addl spend amid BJP walkout

The Legislative Assembly on Tuesday passed the supplementary estimates aggregating Rs 6,980 crore amid a walkout by Opposition BJP members who termed the additional financial demand unscientific and without any specific plan.

Ahead of the supplementary estimates being put to vote, the BJP members sought to know to whom the additional grant of Rs 1,997 crore in the Public Works Department had been allocated. “On what basis the allocation was made and what were the parameters followed?” said J C Madhuswamy of the BJP.

The supplementary estimates coming so close to the main budget was sending the state economy into a tailspin, contended BJP leader Jagadish Shettar. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who also holds the finance portfolio, said that a large quantum of the additional grants sought in the supplementary estimates were being channelised for pro-people schemes. He said Rs 2,500 crore had been allocated to the Cooperation department as part of the state government’s flagship crop loan waiver scheme for farmers.

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department had been provided Rs 510 crore for taking up drinking water projects and rural road works as sought by newly elected legislators, Kumaraswamy said.

Not satisfied with his reply, the BJP members staged a walkout.