Khattar’s maiden budget as FM raises expectations

CURTAIN-RAISER Session begins tomorrow; CM likely to present document on Feb 28

CHANDIGARH: With Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, also holding the charge of finance portfolio, organising a monthlong extensive pre-budget consultations with various stakeholders from every major sector, including MPs and MLAs across the state, expectations will be quite high from him when he presents the 2020-21 budget estimates on February 28.

The upcoming budget session of Haryana assembly, starting February 20, is likely to last eight days with the presentation of budget estimates for 2020-21 fiscal expected on February 28, according to the tentative schedule conveyed on Tuesday by the chief secretary to the state assembly.

The final schedule which will be more or less on the lines of the tentative programme, however, will be drawn by the business advisory committee (BAC) of the assembly. As a finance minister, Khattar held several rounds of interaction with various stakeholders in the economy of the state at Gurugram, Faridabad and Panipat in January. He also took part in a consultative session for the agriculture sector in Hisar on January 16, besides a meeting with representatives of zila parishads, panchayat samitis and gram panchayats as a part of the interdistrict council (rural), a round of discussion with administrative secretaries and consultations with MPs and MLAs.

“After investing so much in consultation process, the chief minister is expected to come up with an extraordinary and remarkable budget document. This budget should be ground breaking and reflect the vision for the next five years of the government,” said a BJP functionary. INLD MLA and former leader of opposition Abhay Chautala said he has little expectations from the budget to be presented by Khattar.

“There are reasons why I feel so. The tentative schedule for the assembly session has spared only couple of hours for discussion on budget estimates. It is clear that the government wants to avoid in-depth discussion. Why is the BJP dithering from implementing the promises it made to the people of Haryana in its poll manifestos? The panel formed for finalising CMP is an excuse to delay decision-making. Why the

BJP needs to hide behind the CMP? The party did not have a pre-poll alliance with the JJP. So why is the need to have a CMP when this is a government of bits and pieces,” Abhay added.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

As per the tentative schedule of the assembly session, the governor will address the assembly on the opening day of the session on February 20. Discussion on governor’s address will take place on February 24, 25, and 26. Presentation and voting on supplementary estimates (second instalment) for 2019-20 may also take place on February 26. Non-official business, including discussion on issues of social importance, may take place on February 27, if the BAC agrees.

Khattar will present the 2020-21 budget estimates on February 28. Discussion and voting on the budget may take place on March 2 and the Haryana Appropriation Bill, 2020, is likely to be tabled on March 3.

The Haryana cabinet will meet under Khattar’s chairmanship in Chandigarh on Thursday afternoon.