Himachal assembly passes 2016-17 budget

The Himachal Pradesh assembly on Thursday passed the 2016-17 budget and the appropriation bill authorising the Virbhadra Singh government to spend Rs.34,738.72 crore from the state's consolidated fund.

The Rs.1,421.87-crore deficit budget was presented by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who also holds the finance portfolio, on March 8.

The house discussed and voted the demands pertaining to public works department, education and health, while the remaining demands were passed without discussion.

Confusion prevailed during the budget's passage as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party claimed that it had not withdrawn the cut motions and these were accepted by default, implying that the Congress government had fallen.

Amidst the pandemonium, the BJP members walked out after Speaker Brij Bihari Lal Butail said the cut motions were rejected by the house and the budget passed with a majority vote in the absence of the BJP.