The upcoming budget session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, which begins on February 20, is likely to be a stormy one, with the opposition Samajwadi Party preparing to poke holes in the Yogi Adityanath government’s recently concluded Global Investors Summit and tall investment claims Is. offer around it.
On the issue of caste census also, the party is preparing to corner the BJP. Sources say that the SP wants to further fuel the debate on the sensitive question of caste census.
Meanwhile, the ruling BJP is keen to focus on the ‘vikas’ (development) narrative, which has been given momentum through investors’ summits and investment proposals worth Rs 33 lakh crore. The state budget to be presented by Finance Minister Suresh Khanna on February 22 will be a reflection of the optimism built through the recent summit.
Sources say that the size of the budget is likely to increase by around Rs 50,000 crore in 2022-2023 as compared to the previous financial year. It is expected to be around Rs 7 lakh crore for the year 2023-2024. Ahead of the general elections next year, the budget is likely to focus on creating jobs for the youth, empowering women and farmers and further upgrading the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has often highlighted the fact that the state’s economy has more than tripled in the last six years of his government. government’s last budget Akhilesh Yadav In 2016 the CM had about Rs 2 lakh crore. The government claims that better fiscal discipline and focus on infrastructure and industry development over the years has brought about a change that could propel the state to become a trillion dollar economy by 2027.
The budget session, being the first session of the state assembly in the current year, will also begin with Governor Anandiben Patel’s address on February 20, which is likely to see protests by the opposition, especially the SP-RLD alliance.
BJP’s claim of development vs SP’s allegation of ‘bundle of lies’
In the budget session, the aggressive opposition will try to corner the BJP government on the issue of development and growth. Samajwadi Party sources say that Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the opposition in the assembly, will himself take charge.
A detailed reply with figures is being prepared to counter the government’s claims of stupendous success around the Investors Summit. The party claimed that Akhilesh Yadav’s speech in response to the budget would be full of arguments and facts, which would expose the propaganda of BJP’s ‘development’ narrative.
SP’s national spokesperson Ameek Jamai said, “We cannot reveal our floor strategy for the assembly, but the fact cannot be denied that the big numbers and fancy claims around the summit are nothing more than a bundle of lies.” Are. As a responsible opposition, we will expose the government at all forums, inside and outside the assembly.
However, speaking to News18, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Brajesh Pathak said, ‘The opposition has been exposed in the public court. The BJP government led by Yogi Adityanath has brought about a remarkable change in the state. The Investors Summit has been a huge success and in November this year, people will witness the first mega ground-breaking ceremony based on the MoUs signed at the Summit.
demand for caste census
The other big agenda on the mind of the opposition, mainly the Samajwadi Party, is the demand for a caste census – a sensitive matter on which the BJP has so far avoided engaging in a direct debate.
In fact, Yogi Adityanath had earlier this month dropped the question, saying in an interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi: “Census is an issue on which the Center decides.”
SP sources reveal that they are planning to corner the BJP in this matter. In the run-up to the 2024 general elections, this demand is most directly linked to the interests of the backward castes and stems from the incomplete recommendations of the Mandal Commission.
JDU-RJD government is running in the neighboring state of Bihar Nitish Kumar Caste based survey has already been ordered. In its insistence on reviving caste-based politics in response to the BJP’s broader Hindutva appeal, parties such as the RLD and JDU in Bihar and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh are likely to lead in the survey.
Highly placed sources in the SP told News18 that the party intends to launch a massive campaign demanding caste census after Holi. Steps like ‘Jail Bharo’ agitation and street protests are likely to be taken. Before that, the party wants to create momentum from the floor of the assembly.
Caste has always been a major driving force in state politics. Experts say that there are 79 different backward castes in Uttar Pradesh and their percentage in the total population is estimated to be between 50 to 54 percent. The Mandal Commission report in 1990 saw the rise of backward caste politics in states like UP and Bihar.
Over the years, while some dominant castes like Yadavs, Kurmis and Jats have emerged as the biggest political and economic beneficiaries, many others are waking up to their might in a democracy. Recent emergence of political players like Om Prakash Rajbhar or Sanjay Nishad of Nishad Party are examples of this.
The Samajwadi Party thinks that by aggressively airing the demand for a caste census, it can reach out to a large OBC base beyond strong castes like the Yadavs. The caste census, if carried out, may also lead to a larger demand for reservation as per percentage in the population.
Law and order, deaths in Kanpur will also be taken up
The Yogi Adityanath government may also face flak from the opposition on the law and order front, especially in the backdrop of the recent suicides by a mother and her daughter while opposing an anti-encroachment drive.
In the horrific incident that came to light from Kanpur Dehat district a few days back, the entire opposition including Congress and BSP targeted the state government and questioned its bulldozer policy.
There was also an attempt to give it an “anti-Brahmin” color against the BJP, as the victims in the case were from the Brahmin community. However, the government immediately acted and suspended the concerned SDM and SHO and filed an FIR against the two and several other government employees involved in the operation.
The assembly session, which began on February 20, is likely to continue till March 10. The motion of thanks on the Governor’s address is likely to conclude on the 24th and the discussion on the budget will begin on the 25th.
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