Replying to four-day long debate on the budget today the Chief Minister demolished the Congress claim that resource problems faced by the state were result of wrong evaluation of state's receipts and expenditure and said it was the Virbhadra Singh Government, which was to be blamed for the lapse. Dhumal reminded that had then the government not concealed a budgetary deficit of Rs. 171.75 crore and given correct figures to the Ninth Finance Commission, the state's position would have been much better today.

In his 90-minute speech, the Chief Minister quoting figures replied point-wise to the charges levelled by the Congress members, including Virbhadra Singh, who is also leader of the Opposition, about budget being inflationary or wrong presentation of facts on state's financial position.

Dhumal also announced reduction in the sales tax on edible oils from the proposed eight per cent to six per cent keeping in view the sentiments expressed by some members.Dhumal reminded the Congress that though former CM Virbhadra Singh claimed having presented tax-free budgets, but new taxes worth Rs. 74.95 crore were levied during since 1993 from the back-doors. ``Let us evolve a concensus on such measures to moblise resources and only then we can ask the Centre to grant a liberal help to the state to tide over financial crisis,'' he urged the opposition.

He declared that the budget, which had a substantial hike in the allocations on key-sectors, would give a new direction to the development process.

Launching a attack against the previous government for opening educational and health institutions without making budgetary provisions or providing basic infrastructures, Dhumal declared that despite all what Congress had done, his government would make all new institutions fully functional besides opening new ones in the area, which were left out for political reasons.

The Chief Minister did not spare the last government for resorting to wasteful expenditures. He quoted the speech of chairman of the 10th Finance Commission K.C.Pant, who had specifically asked the state government to cut down its non-plan expenditures.

About minor doze of taxation, Dhumal said that the choice was between direct taxes and raising of loans at high rate of interest and increasing the interest liability.

Replying to the charge of the former Chief Minister that junior officers called computer boys were running the government and senior bureaucracy was feeling demoralised, Dhumal said that it was the Congress government which politicised the bureaucracy and even wanted to field the then Chief secretary its candidate in the Assembly elections.

When some Congress members tried to contradict it, he said that the AIR, Shimla had broadcast the statement of V.B.Singh saying that the Chief Secretary's name was being considered for the Congress ticket.

The Assembly would have ten days recess from July 11 to July 19 to enable the departmental committees to scrutinise the budget and present their report. The Chief Minister advised the MLAs to make best use of opportunity, which was introduced for the first time.