Dehradun, March 9 -- The upcoming budget session of the Uttarakhand Assembly in the summer capital Gairsain is expected to be stormy, with the opposition Congress preparing to corner the state government on a range of issues related to governance, law and order, and public welfare. Congress leaders said the party will raise several pressing issues affecting the state, including the alleged rise in crime and atrocities against women, growing unemployment and recruitment scams, and the demand for justice in the case of the receptionist from Pauri Garhwal who was murdered in 2022. The opposition also plans to target the government over inflation, alleged corruption, deteriorating law and order, and the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict in several hill districts. Party leaders said the condition of public health services in the state, particularly in remote areas, will also be highlighted during the session. Addressing reporters on Sunday, a day before the assembly session, Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya criticised the government, saying that only nine sessions had been held in the past four years and the House had functioned for merely 32 days. "Out of these 32 days, the assembly was never convened on Monday (which is the day allocated for the chief minister to answer questions raised by MLAs). The chief minister holds 40 portfolios, but questions related to these departments are not taken up," he said. He further alleged that the government wants to reduce the budget session to a mere formality and shorten its schedule. "By breaking traditions, the government has scheduled the presentation of the Budget immediately after the Governor's address. I have been an MLA in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly as well, but I have never seen this practice. This reflects the government's intention to conclude the session as quickly as possible," Arya said. He alleged that the government was unwilling to allow discussion on key public issues such as inflation, corruption, unemployment, crimes against women, the poor condition of schools and hospitals, and disaster management. "The government appears afraid and is not in a position to answer questions raised by Congress MLAs. We want the session to run longer so that meaningful discussions can take place on important issues," he said. "The agenda of the session is being decided on the basis of strength. What can be expected from them? We have extended our cooperation for the smooth conduct of the House, but it is the BJP that often disrupts proceedings and attempts to suppress questions. We anticipate a similar situation in this session as well," he said. The BJP, however, said that the Congress should avoid making excuses and instead participate in discussions on public issues. State BJP president Mahendra Bhatt said the opposition has created ruckus in the House for the past four years and should now engage constructively. "The House has witnessed repeated disruptions by the opposition for four years. In such a situation, excuses such as suppression of voices, a short session period, or the timing of the Budget presentation will no longer work. Congress MLAs should come prepared to raise public issues in the session. Otherwise, they will face the consequences in the 2027 assembly elections," he said. Bhatt added that even if the Congress are given 50 days, it would still fail to hold meaningful discussions on public issues. "The BJP govt under chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has done excellent work and earned the public's trust. There is hardly any issue on which the government's intentions are unclear. The opposition remains confused and therefore tries to avoid debate by creating disruptions," he said....