Rejecting claims and criticism of the opposition parties concerning the union budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said there has been no deviation from the set path and the states are receiving allocations as in the past.
In an interview to a news organization, Sitharaman rejected criticisms of only Bihar and Andhra Pradesh being given importance in the budget presented by her on July 23.
Opposition political parties alleged that Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, governed by Janata Dal (United) and Telugu Desam Party respectively, both members of ruling National Democratic Alliance, were preferred over non-BJP states in the budget.
However, the minister reportedly said that states are receiving allocations as in the past.
No state in the country had been denied anything, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act requires the Centre to support the southern state in building its capital city and developing backward regions. Hence, it was allocated Rs 15,000 crore.
The minister also said that the government is committed to expediting the Polavaram Irrigation Project.
“Several steps have been taken in the last 10 years (and) many other steps, as per the Act, which had to be done have been done. Yes, we will support (the building of the new capital, Amaravati, and the Polavaram irrigation project) … Polavaram should have been completed but there are some technical issues. The state government is seized of the matter,” the minister was quoted as saying in the report.
On being asked if the fuel prices would be reduced, the minister said that both petrol and diesel could be taxed under Goods and Services Tax (GST) and not under (Value Added Tax).
“If state governments agree to the proposal and fix a suitable rate,” the minister said.
“If they fix the rate and all come together… and decide that GST will include petroleum products, then we can implement it immediately,” she added.
