Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 21 pleading with him to “not suspend Delhi’s budget” amid a dispute between the Center and the AAP dispensation in the nation’s capital over the matter.
The Kejriwal administration and the Central Government have been exchanging accusations over funding for several heads, delaying the introduction of the Delhi Government’s budget for 2024–24 which was slated for Tuesday.
Kejriwal’s letter
According to Mr. Kejriwal’s letter, this is the first time a state’s budget has stagnated in the last 75 years. In his letter, Kejriwal expressed concern that the central government may withhold approval of the budget due to political differences between the ruling party at the center and in Delhi. Why do Delhi inhabitants enrage you? Do not delay Delhi’s budget, please. Delhi residents extend their hands in begging for your approval of their budget.
Appearing on a news program on Monday, Mr. Kejriwal accused the Centre of using “gundagardi” and claimed that this was the first time in the history of the nation that a government’s budget had been postponed. His comments were captured on tape by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The Chief Minister posted a news article about the rise in per capita income in Delhi on Twitter and noted that the city was doing exceptionally well despite all of the challenges that were being put in its way daily. Imagine if these barriers did not exist and all governments collaborated for the benefit of the populace. Delhi would then grow much faster.
The Chief Minister argued that any delay or halt in the approval of the budget would have severe implications for the people of Delhi, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds who rely on government schemes and subsidies
In a tweet, Gehlot said, On March 10th, the budget was sent to MHA for approval. Yet the document containing MHA’s concerns wasn’t provided to him until today at 6 p.m. (Monday). After getting the CM’s consent, they addressed the MHA’s concerns and returned the paperwork to Delhi’s LG at 9 o’clock this evening. It is clear that the MHA’s complaints are unjustified and seem to be raised only to obstruct the Delhi government’s budget for the following year. Terrible day for the democracy in India.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has halted the budget, according to sources in the city government, and it won’t be presented to the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday.
Saurabh Bharadwaj, a Delhi minister, and national spokesperson for the AAP called it totally “shameful.” that the budget had been postponed during a press conference in Delhi.
He also added that this is humiliating them in front of everyone on earth. The Center’s decision to halt a minor State’s budget is disgusting
In a letter submitted to the chief secretary on March 17, Mr. Bharadwaj claimed the MHA had certain reservations about the Delhi Government’s budget and declined to give its approval.
He contemplated it for three days. More significant than any anti-national conduct is this. This has to be looked into. The budget is being postponed at the Center’s request, he claimed, and it is orchestrating this scheme.
The top AAP official claimed that the Budget is a sacred document and a private exercise. How could a “babu” question government spending when seated in the center, he questioned.
The AAP government’s Budget proposal had a high allocation for advertising and relatively low funding for infrastructure and other development initiatives, according to sources in the MHA, who also claimed that the ministry had asked the AAP government for clarification as the Chief Minister attacked the Centre.
Read more: ARVIND KEJRIWAL’S PLEA TO PM MODI
