Leader of the opposition V Vaithilingam on Thursday demanded the immediate convening of the Assembly session and presentation of the full budget for 2012-2013 so that a proper budget session could be held before the end of July.
Addressing a press conference, Vaithilingam said a vote on account was passed for only four months of the current financial year which would come to an end by July.
He said that after July the government would not be able to pay salaries to its employees or make expenditures unless the budget was passed. If the government were to wait for the finalisation of plan size by the planning commission there would be delay, said Vaithilingam.
There would be limited time and this would lead to a truncated session where there would be no scope to raise issues or have discussions on subjects of public interest, the leader of the opposition added.
Citing the Tamil Nadu government as an example, Vaithilingam expressed that the finalisation of the plan size was not required for presentation of the budget. The TN Government had presented the full budget earlier and the plan size was finalised this month after discussion with planning commission. He said that taking the previous years plan allocation, central assistance and internal revenue mobilisation, the Puducherry government could present the budget. Whatever additional funds would be given by the Centre could be adjusted in the revised estimates of the budget.
Vathilingam also flayed the AINRC for enhancing the power tariff.