R.K. Singh backs SC's order, says Union Budget won't influence voters' minds

New Delhi [India], Jan. 24 (ANI): Coming in support of the Supreme Court's order which dismissed a plea seeking postponement of Union Budget presentation ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in five states, former home secretary and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP R.K. Singh on Tuesday said it won't influence the voters' minds either way. Singh told ANI that the apex court's decision indicates the government's stand. "The situation is such that state polls now keep happening. If you start postponing constitutional functions because of the polls then you will probably not be able to perform your constitutional functions on time," he added. Singh further stated that the state polls are decided on the basis of specific issues where the Union Budget is for the entire country. "Therefore, it is not that Union Budget will sort of influence the voters' minds this way or that way. So, I believe that this order is right," he added. The Election Commission yesterday ordered that no state specific schemes shall be announced in national budget in the interest of free and fair elections. It may be ensured that in the budget speech the government's achievements in respect of five poll-bound states will not be highlighted. The government yesterday called for an all-party meeting on January 30 ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament. The apex court yesterday announced that the budget will be announced on February 1, as had been decided by the government. The apex court rejected lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma's plea seeking postponement of Union Budget to March due to the upcoming assembly elections in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand next month. Sharma in his plea stated that the people would face a lot of problems due to the upcoming assembly elections in the five states. The opposition had also sought the same, arguing that the budget announcement would allure the voters and influence voting thereby leading to unfair elections. (ANI)