'Deliberate delay of budget approval to create fiscal crisis'

Opposition AIADMK today charged the NDA government at the Centre with deliberately delaying approval for the draft budget for the union territory for fiscal 2018-19 "to create a fiscal crisis" and cite this to dismiss the government.

The draft budget, AIADMK legislature wing leader A Anbalagan said, was finalised by the Puducherry State Planning Board, headed by the Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, a few months ago and forwarded to the Home Ministry for approval.

He alleged that the delay in giving the nod only showed that there was a clear and deliberate move to create fiscal crisis and that the Centre was also planning to dismiss the Puducherry government citing the fiscal crisis.

The Lt Governor also has the responsibility to get the Centre's nod for the budget, he said and expressed dismay over the assembly not being able to adopt a full fledged budget.

"Never before has such a situation arisen in Puducherry. The Narayanasamy headed government is also not showing resistance to the Centre's conspiracy to disturb his government, he said.

Anbalagan asked all political parties to protest against the Centre and also the Lt Governor, who had 'failed' in her moral responsibility to get approval for the budget.

He demanded that Narayanaswami quit office, owning moral responsbility for the 'piquant situation' arising out of want of a full fledged budget.

The Assembly had a one day session on March 26 and passed a Vote on Account bill, earmarking funds for the first four months (April to July) of fiscal 2018-19 to enable various departments draw required money from Consolidated Fund of India to meet routine expenditure.

The House was reconvened by the Speaker and had a two day session on June 4 and 5 and could not bring in the budget.

The debate on motion of thanks to Lt Governor's address on March 26 was inconclusive and the House adjourned sine die on June 5.

The Chief Minister had been meeting the Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry to try and get its approval for the budget, which has however not yet come about.