Chaudhary identifies 15 issues, seeks quick action
In a move that took the House by surprise, leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Amarsinh Chaudhary demanded "prompt action" on key issues concerning the state from the state government giving a clear indication that the Congress in the House may be small in number but will not be complacent in raising development issues.

Mr Chaudhary assured the Narendra Modi government of creative cooperation and support if it acts immediately on about 15 key issues that have causing hurdles in the state development.

He accused the state government of failing to implement drought measures, control the escalating edible oil prices and of pushing the state into a debt crisis. The state government’s attempts to defend its actions appeared feeble against the assault of Mr Chaudhary.

Speaking on the governor’s address, Mr Chaudhary said the BJP has got a massive mandate from the people and it is now time to act. "Mr Modi has sworn by the five crore people of the state on countless occasions and his government should now remain faithful to the people’s wishes," he said.

The leader of the Opposition was critical of the state government’s failure to initiate relief work and provide drinking water in the state despite drought having been announced and said this has led to exodus of people from water-scarce areas. He stressed that the work needs to be commenced on a "war footing".

He pointed to the rising prices of fodder and the lack of adequate distribution facilities. He also demanded adequate power for drawing water in the agricultural sector to enable farmers to save their winter crop. "The farmers have been forced to buy expensive seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and are facing the problem of getting inadequate prices for their crops," Chaudhary said.

Seeking immediate control on the prices of edible oil, he said on one hand the state government has been unable to provide adequate prices to farmers whereas on the other the prices of edible oil have touched the sky. He also sought immediate control on prices of essential commodities.

"On the day the government was formed the prices of groundnut oil shot up by Rs 65. The state government should control the prices immediately to wipe out the impression that it is not hand in glove with the oil millers and that the raids were not stage managed," Mr Chaudhary said.

He also accused the state government of hurling the state government into a debt crisis and said the state’s debt has risen to Rs 50,000 crores and the treasury is empty forcing it to resort to overdrafts.

The Opposition leader said the state has been pushed to the 11th place in terms of industries in the country and asked the state government to enhance efforts to bring it back to the second position. He asked the state government to make greater efforts in its poverty alleviation programmes.

He also asked the state government to refrain from playing politics on the Sardar Sarovar Project and to complete its construction on time.

Republished from The Asian Age