The government is heading for a financial crisis with the Assembly adjourning
sine die
on Thursday without passing the Budget for 2018-19.

After the House passed government resolutions, Speaker V. Vaithilingam said Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi had not given her assent for presenting the Appropriation Bill, which authorises the government to spend money for this financial year. He told presspersons that passing of the Bill would only authorise the government to draw funds to meet its expenditure. “The budget has been presented and the key to passing the budget is the presentation of the Appropriation Bill. If the budget is not passed, even salary could not be given to employees next month,” Mr. Vaithilingam said.

Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy told
The Hindu
that he had sent the file to the Lt. Governor seeking her assent to present the Bill in the Assembly three days ago. “She had returned the file seeking clarifications. The queries were addressed and then she wrote back saying it is under her active examination. I don’t know the intention of the administrator,” the Chief Minister said.

Later addressing a press conference, he said: “I am not sure whether she has taken the decision (not to give her assent for the bill) independently or at the behest of someone else. Her style of functioning gives an impression that she was acting on behalf of the BJP,” he said.

Bedi’s stand

Lt Governor Kiran Bedi said: “Instead of blaming anyone, they should make public the letter received from the administrator. They are approved to be in session till July 26 but they have foreclosed on July 19.”

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