Takes Govt to task for slashing budgetary allocations
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Stunning every one with her maiden fierce speech in the Assembly today, the BJP’s MLA from Nagrota constituency, Devyani Rana said “I am making my maiden address with heavy heart but hope in this House today’’.
Participating in the debate on annual budget for 2026-27 in UT Assembly which was presented by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah yesterday who is also holding the Finance portfolio, Devyani Rana said she will speak as the representative of Nagrota Assembly segment. “I pay reverence to my great father, Devender Singh Rana who represented this constituency and was elected as a Member of this Assembly with highest margin,. His ideals will continue to guide me and I resolve to serve this constituency as he used to do.’’
The entire House listened her with rapt attention and there was pin drop silence in the Assembly tills he finished her speech. She also complimented Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman for providing Rs 43290 as Central grants to UT of J&K. However the fire band BJP leader took the UT Government to task and showed her grave concern for reducing budgetary allocations to various sectors in yesterday’s budget for 2026-27.
Referring to Disaster Management and Relief & Rehabilitation Department, Devyani Rana said during 2025-26 Financial year Rs 719 crore budgetary allocation was provided to this Department which was slashed to Rs 448 crore during the financial year of 2026-27 in yesterday’s budget. This way Rs 271 crore was given less than last year, she added.
She, while showing her dismay over slashing the budgetary allocation for Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation Department said Jammu region this year was marred by unprecedented rainfall and floods that also befall on her Nagrota constituency where a three year girl and a 28 year youth were drowned in flood waters. This was not only in Nagrota constituency but other areas of Jammu region also where people suffered heavily due to natural calamity, she added. Click here to watch video
Devyani said Jammu is a region prone to earthquakes, landslides, cloudbursts and floods and making pre-emptive measures against such disasters is the duty of the Government. But she asked one fails to understand how Government can coop up with such disasters when the allocations are slashed? “It is the moral duty of every Government to act to coop up with such disasters’’.
She said another issue is Acuity and Transparency. “Our bridges, roads etc were damaged, the trucks were stranded with load on roadside for days together. I don’t say that the trucks carrying apple or fruit growers did not suffer but at the same time we can’t count a house damaged or people killed in floods or cloud burst with an apple box’’.
She said likewise allocation for Education and Power Development Department were also slashed in this budget to a great extent. She wondered when the budgetary allocation of Education Department is slashed how the standard of education can be improved in the schools. This way the schools will be closed and how the poor children can read and the vacancies in Education Department can be fulfilled?
Devyani said the situation in Power Development Department is also concerning. The budgetary allocation for coming financial year have been considerably slashed and how the Department will coop up with low voltage problem, power curtailment and burning down of sub stations.
She said there is dearth of staff and linemen are overburdened so they can’t coop up with the situation. On free bus service to women she said it is also unconvincing as the buses don’t stop to pick up women passengers and when bus will not stop how a passenger will board it, she asked?
She said there is lack of connectivity in various areas and in her constituency people demand connectivity and bus stops.
Devyani who concluded her speech with a Shalok from Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta said “We have come to service of the people and we have to devote ourselves for that’’.
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