MP assembly budget session begins; Guv lists govt achievements

Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel said today the state has been at the forefront in implementing the flagship schemes of the Modi government and is committed to establishing social harmony.
In her address to the assembly on the opening day of the budget session, she said the state has been recognised by the Centre for its achievements in the agriculture sector.
The Governor, whose address was marred by slogan shouting and remarks by the opposition Congress MLAs, listed the various achievements of the BJP government.
This would be the last budget session of the assembly in Madhya Pradesh, where polls are due by the year-end.

"My government undertook 'Ekatm Yatra' in all the districts of state to strengthen social harmony and cultural unity of the country," Patel said.
The yatra was part of the government's plan to install a 108-feel tall statue of Adi Shankaracharya, a renowned philosopher and theologian, at Omkareshwar in Khandwa district, the Governor said.

"The state has been leading in implementing the flagship schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," she said.
She said the state created awareness about sanitation, environment and river conservation during its 144-day long Namami Devi Narmade Yatra.
The government has signed MoUs with organisations like the Art of Living (Bengaluru), Initiatives of Change (Pune) and Isha Foundation (Coimbatore) for holding "Anand Shivir" (happiness camps) in the state, Patel said.

Patel said the government has reduced the value added tax (VAT) on diesel from 27 per cent to 22 per and on petrol from 31 per cent to 28 per cent.
Highlighting the government's agriculture schemes, including the newly launched 'Bhavantar' and increase in irrigation capacity, Patel said Madhya Pradesh received 'Krishi Karman Award' from the Centre for five successive times for agri production.
Under the Prime Minister's Awas Yojana, the state has set a target to construct 10 lakh houses by 2022, she said, adding all the urban areas in the state have been declared open defecation free.
Patel said the government is in the process of setting up seven new medical colleges - at Ratlam, Khandwa, Vidisha, Shahdol, Datia, Shivpuri and Chhindwara.

The Congress members made repeated remarks during her speech and shouted slogans when the Governor mentioned about issues related to farmers and no new liquor shop opening in the state in the last seven years.
The main opposition demanded a farm loan waiver and said the VAT on petrol was still high.
"Despite the reduction, the VAT on petrol and diesel is the highest in Madhya Pradesh in the country," said Bala Bachchan, Deputy Leader of Opposition.
The government has also imposed a cess of Re 1 per litre on petroleum products, he said.
Bachchan said the Congress wants these products to be brought under the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

The opposition members displayed a placard in the House demanding loan waiver for farmers.
Earlier, Speaker Sitasharan Sharma said the Governor would read out select parts of her speech and not the full text.
Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh said the government's achievements were "a bundle of lies" and criticised the Governor's "lacklustre" speech.