Cong issues whip to its MPs on the general budget

NEW DELHI: The ruling party Congress today issued a three-line whip to its MPs asking them to be present in the Lok Sabha and vote in favour of the general budget for 2011-12.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will reply to general discussion on the budget tomorrow in the Lower House.

His reply will be followed by voting on the budget for 2011-12 and the supplementary demands for grants for the 2010-11.

The government, in view of the elections in five states (West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) have curtailed the budget session of Parliament, which will conclude on March 25.

It proposes to complete the entire budgetary exercise including passage of the demands for grants, relevant Appropriation Bills and Finance Bill in Parliament by March 24.

As regards the demands for grants, the Lok Sabha will discuss allocations for the four ministries -- Rural Development, External Affairs, Mining and Road Transport.

In the Rajya Sabha discussions will take place on demands of ministries of Tribal Affairs, Minorities Affairs, Defence and Civil Aviation.

Guillotine will be applied in the Lok Sabha on discussion for the demands of other ministries on March 17.

Guillotine is a parliamentary procedure to curtail debate on demands for grants of various ministries to ensure timely passage of the Finance Bill, which completes the budgetary exercise.

The Finance Bill, which incorporates tax proposals for 2011-12, will be taken up for discussion on March 21 and 22 in the Lower House and the entire process would be completed by March 24.

Mukherjee had unveiled the budget proposals for 2011-12 in the Lok Sabha on February 28.