Delhi Assembly passes 2019-20 Budget

The Delhi Assembly on Thursday passed by a voice vote the Rs 60,000 crore budget, fifth of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, for 2019-20.

Tabled on Tuesday by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the budget outlay was two times the first one presented by the AAP in 2014-15.

Education once again received the major share, which was 13.21 per cent higher than the Budget Estimate (BE) of Rs 53,000 crore in 2018-19.

Speaking at the motion of thanks, Sisodia also the Finance Minister, said he took "personal interest in supervising a makeover of school education in Delhi in the past four years as the Education Minister."

He also shared a four-minute video on the transformation in government schools since the AAP came to power.

"This video should be shown throughout the country. I had asked the officials to show it in cinema halls and television channels in Delhi. But the Education Department officers had denied permission in writing, saying how could they believe the video showed the transformation in Delhi schools," Sisodia said.

Pointing at the Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs, Sisodia said: "They have intentionally got such officers posted in the Delhi government."

Speaker Ram Niwas Goel later said a special committee will be formed to look into the matter.

Hailing the budget, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said it was for everyone and dedicated to the soldiers.

--IANS

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