First supplementary budget , Treasury benches say it is an assault on religious faith.
BHOPAL : These were some of the figures cited by the opposition members to allege massive corruption in Simhastha during discussion on the first supplementary budget in the Assembly on Monday. And the government stood cornered.
The ruling party MLAs attempted a bizarre defence saying that exposing corruption in Simhastha was an “attack on religious faith”.
The Rs 14,367.54 crore budget was cleared by the House.
The Opposition MLAs said that even the EOW had filed two corruption cases in connection with the Simhastha. Fingers were raised at expenditure on publicity of Simhastha with huge hoardings of CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan dotting the various cities and towns.
Congress MLA Jitu Patwari said, “There was gross corruption in Simhastha. Pitchers were purchased from auto spares shop. Breakfast plates were purchased at rate of Rs 1625 per plate.” Patwari asked that if breakfast plate costs Rs 1625 per piece, how much would have been paid for the breakfast? Similarly, Patwari said, “Rs 6 crore was spent on hotel construction but Rs 6.6 crore was spent on repairs of a hotel with the same number of rooms. Thermos was purchased at Rs 14,000 per piece.”
Similarly, a huge amount was wasted on publicity of Simastha. Hoardings with the photographs of the CM were installed in other states also, Patwari added.
Demanding a White Paper on Simhastha expenses, Congress MLA Dr Govind Singh said, “Stethoscopes cost hardly Rs 165 in the market, but they were purchased for Rs 7000 per piece. Rubber hand gloves cost Rs 150 in market but but were bought for Rs 2250. A blacklisted contractor of 2004 Simhastha was given contract for the construction of toilets and urinals. His payment has been made but all the toilets and urinal are yet to be constructed. Contractors were paid under JNNURM and even by the civic body. So they were paid from both sides.”
Similarly, open surgery scissor which costs Rs 2610 was purchased for Rs 7038. Open scissors blunt which cost Rs 150 were purchased for Rs 4620. Forceps cost Rs 60 but were purchased for Rs 600, Dr Govind Singh added.
Huge money was spent on development of Kedar Dham and Arogya Dham so it is matter of probe. Similarly huge money has been spent for RSS and Saraswati Shishu Mandir in the state, Congress MLAs said.
Mukesh Nayak said, “Unnecessary expenditure was made on publicity of Simhastha.”
* Breakfast plates for Rs 1,625 a piece.
* Stethoscopes for Rs 7000 a piece (market price Rs 165)
* Rubber hand gloves Rs 2,250 a piece (market price Rs 150)
* Pitchers purchased from auto repairs shop
* Surgical scissors for Rs 7,038 (market price Rs 2610)
* Thermos flasks for Rs 14,000 per piece
Will govt tax Gangajal too, Bachchan wants to know
Bill imposing 6% tax on online purchases cleared,
BHOPAL : The Bill regarding levying of 6 per cent tax on online shopping was approved by the House on Monday. The Bill, piloted by commercial tax minister Jayant Mallaiya, was passed amidst protests by opposition. Acting leader of opposition Bala Bachchan, opposing the bill, claimed that the central government had decided to provide Gangajal through online mode but the state government is preparing to tax it. Bachchan said students do online shopping for study and sports material and online shopping tax would put burden on them.
Bachchan alleged that in order to benefit the government, all sections of the society are being made to suffer. MLA Ramnivas Rawat also registered his protest on the said bill. On the other hand, BJP MLA Shailendra Jain termed the bill as beneficial to small traders. Mallaiya said online shopping tax is aleady being charged in six states across the country and the bill is fool-proof as it has been prepared after a thorough study.
Shahdol Budget
Deputy leader of opposition Bala Bachchan dubbed the supplementary budget as Shahdol-Lok Sabha bye-election budget as Rs 630 crore has been allocated for Shahdol Parliamentary constituency for tribal welfare. No fund has been allocated for sports while 7 state players have been selected for Reo Olympics. Rs 850 crore has been allocated for insurance compensation of 2015 for farmers. Rs 34 crore was spent for permanent pipe line but Rs 117 crore was withdrawn for temporary pipe line in Simahstha.”
