Blaming Nitish Kumar government for "breaking" old tradition of preparing budget after consulting cross-section of population, BJP today presented its wish list to the state government asking it to include provisions like free laptop with internet facilities for plus-two students and a separate budget for agriculture.
"Nitish Kumar government is going to break the old tradition laid down during NDA days to seek views of cross-section (of people) before finalising the budget," senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters.
Sushil Modi, who was also deputy chief minister and Finance Minister in the NDA government, said Kumar was afraid that the credit would go to BJP if he followed the tradition.
Accompanied by leader of opposition in Assembly, Nand Kishore Yadav, Sushil Modi presented a detailed wish list of the party asking the state to incorporate them in the budget document.
He advocated free distribution of laptop with internet facility to boys and girls of plus-two level.
Asked if this was inspired by similar scheme in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Sushil Modi retorted, "What is the harm in learning good things from anywhere?"
Yadav suggested an increase in amount for purchase of cycle to Rs 3,500 from Rs 2,500, keeping in view the price rise.
Sushil Modi demanded a separate budget for vital agriculture sector in tune with the agriculture roadmap laid down by the state government for five years (2012-17).
They sought education loan for students at a marginal rate of one per cent interest instead of 12 per cent charged at present and asked the state government to bear expense of 11 per cent interest on such loans.
