Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said the objections raised by the Centre to the budget are unconstitutional and without any merit. Speaking at the Delhi assembly, where the budget was to be presented, Kejriwal said till date, no Central government has violated tradition and delayed a state budget.
Then, he continued, pointing out flaws in the Centre’s arguments, “In the budget, ₹ 20,000 crore was allocated for infrastructure, 500 crore for advertisement. We never heard that 500 is more than 20,000”.
“They have kept a group of illiterate people from top to bottom,” claimed the CM, whose government considers the revamp of Delhi schools one of its finest achievements. The few BJP members burst into a commotion of protest, and Kejriwal added, “I have not taken the name of your leader,” sending the house into gales of laughter.
देर आए दुरुस्त आए। केंद्र सरकार ने हमारा बजट पास कर दिया। पहले ही पास कर देते, इतना बखेड़ा करने की क्या ज़रूरत थी? https://t.co/mqERayClsx
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 21, 2023
“On 20th at 2 pm, the minister was informed that some objections had come from the Union Home Ministry. After this, the minister called repeatedly, then at 6 in the evening, the file was kept in front of the minister. We had the option of fighting or going to court, but we responded to all observations,” Kejriwal said.
“After we responded to the observations, they approved the budget. They could have done it earlier. I am just saying that instead of these illiterates who don’t understand budget, give it to someone who understands it,” he added.
In the midst of the argument, the CM wrote to PM Modi accusing the Center of purposely delaying the budget. In assembly today, he reiterated the message.
“I appeal to the Prime Minister through this House- we want to work, we don’t want to fight. PM-ji, please let us run Delhi. You are doing great things, you focus on that, let us focus on our job,” he said.
Since 2015, the BJP has often accused the AAP of misusing public funds for advertisements.
In 2021, even Union Home Minister Amit Shah had taken a dig at AAP, saying that the country has two political cultures, one of which is the silent worker and the other is “karo ya na karo, advertisements do, TV interviews do.”
“The people of Delhi have realised who actually carries out development works and who just does the lip service,” he had said.
In December last year, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had issued an order directing AAP to reimburse the government for the 163.62 crore it had illegally spent on advertising.