The Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday passed a significant supplementary budget of Rs 35,000 crore for the current financial year, a move the government says will accelerate development but the opposition Congress claims is a sign of poor fiscal management.
Voice Vote Approval and Timely Passage
The first supplementary demands for the fiscal year were approved by a voice vote in the state assembly. Alongside the demands, the related Appropriation Bill was also passed. Notably, this financial approval comes roughly three months before the conclusion of the financial year, a timing that has become a point of contention between the ruling government and the opposition.
Government's Rationale for the Additional Funds
The state's Finance Minister defended the substantial allocation, stating that the additional Rs 35,000 crore is essential to speed up various development projects across Chhattisgarh. The government's position is that this infusion of funds will ensure that key infrastructure and welfare initiatives do not face delays and are completed in a timely manner, thereby benefiting the citizens of the state.
Congress Mounts a Strong Opposition
The Congress legislators, however, launched a vigorous attack on the government's financial strategy. They argued that Chhattisgarh is "sinking deeper into debt" and questioned the logic behind introducing such a large supplementary budget in the final quarter of the fiscal year. The opposition's critique centers on concerns over fiscal discipline and the management of the state's treasury, suggesting that the move indicates poor planning.
The passage of this supplementary budget sets the stage for intensified political debate in Raipur, with the government touting it as a push for progress and the opposition framing it as a fiscal misstep.
