By-Akanksha Raj
Nirmala Sitharaman stated that it was not possible for any finance minister to intervene to block payments because of the state government.
NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday countered the Congress’s assault against the central government over the distribution of funds to the states, saying it was a “politically-vitiated narrative” that “vested interests” had been attempting to disseminate.
It is just impossible for any finance minister to intercede and say, ‘I don’t like this state, halt payment’. No way. It cannot happen that way. “The system is well placed,” Sitharaman said in response to Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s claim in the Lok Sabha that the central government had been trying to settle political scores by withholding payments from states such as Karnataka.
Chowdhury pointed out that there is an accepted opinion that non-BJP-ruled states are denied their lawful dues, citing Karnataka as one example. “Is it true that the State of Karnataka has been refused its legal dues? It was all well six months ago; what happened now?” he asked.
Chowdhury’s accusation comes ahead of a planned protest in Delhi on February 7 by Karnataka’s ruling MPs, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, to demand more funding for the state. According to Siddaramaiah, Karnataka has lost approximately ₹45,000 crore in the last four years due to reduced tax devolution share following the 15th Finance Commission.
Sitharaman said that no Union finance minister could play with the Finance Commission’s recommendations.
This fear that some states are being discriminated against is a politically motivated story that, I’m disappointed to say, powerful interests are grateful to propagate,” she remarked during Question Hour.
Sitharaman also highlighted Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s responses, which implied that the troubles in Karnataka began six months earlier.
Adhir Ranjanji stated that things were well till six months ago. If everything was well six months ago, what’s the matter now? Have you begun to spend money on products that you were not supposed to? I’m not even questioning it; spend it. But please don’t blame me. “Don’t blame the Centre,” she remarked, referring to Siddaramaiah’s appointment as chief minister in May 2023 after the BJP lost the state election.