Leaders in Delhi over budget tangle

| 07 March 2002 17:29 IST

With no clarity on whether the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Goa could continue in power after dissolving the Assembly without presenting the annual budget, the whole drama has now moved to Delhi, amidst demand for the President's rule.

Following leaders of the opposition Congress, chief minister Manohar Parrikar has also dashed the national capital, along with advocate general Atmaram Nadkarni, to seek proper legal guidance in this regard.

"He has no other option than resigning and paving way for the President's rule in the state", said Luizinho Faleiro, former opposition leader. During his Delhi visit, he plans to submit memorandum to the President of India, demanding central rule in the state.

Parrikar, though retracted from his earlier stand of getting the annual budget passed from the Parliament, now plans to get an ordinance issued from the Raj Bhavan to transfer funds for four-month expenditure from consolidated to contingency fund.

"I can get the money from contingency fund without even having the annual financial statement", claims Parrikar. He also claims of having received green signal from the Lok Sabha secretariat and the union law ministry, though final confirmation is awaited.

During their Delhi visit, the chief minister and the AG are expected to meet the concerned officials, in order to find a way out to remain in power till elections, which might be held before June.

Sensing yet another toppling, the BJP here had recommended House dissolution within 32 months, on 27 February.

Dr Kashinath Jalmi, leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak party, has however reiterated that the state governor has powers to issue ordinances only during recess of the Assembly and not when it is not alive. Secondly, ordinance for appropriation of any fund from consolidated to contingency is unconstitutional, he adds.

While almost all legal experts here opine that the BJP has no way out than going for the President's rule before 31 March, the tiny state is awaiting the final outcome on the issue, probably by tomorrow, once the chief minister arrives here from Delhi.

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