NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, March 21 pleading him to "not stop Delhi's budget", amid a row between the Central governemnt and the Aam Aaadmi Party dispensation in the national capital over the issue.
"The budget of any state has been halted for the first time in the nation's 75-year existence. Why are you upset with Delhi residents? Do not halt the Delhi Budget, please. The people of Delhi are pleading with you to support the budget as they fold their hands "In his letter, he stated. For the first time in India's history, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has prevented the Delhi government from delivering its annual Budget for 2023–24 on its scheduled date of March 21, according to a statement made by Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Monday.
He asserted that the Budget was submitted to the MHA for approval on March 10 in accordance with standard procedure.
Gahlot added that, with Kejriwal's blessing, the government addressed the MHA's concerns and forwarded the file back to the Delhi L-G.
He emphasised that it was important to look into how the Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary of Delhi contributed to the delay in the budget.
"The amount set aside for capital expenditures for the upcoming year is close to Rs 22,000 crore, but just Rs 550 crore, or about the same as last year, is set aside for advertising. The MHA's objections are unfounded, and it appears that they were raised merely to derail the Delhi government's budget for the following year "Gahlot said.
As the CM slammed at the Centre, sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs said that ithas sought clarification from the AAP government as its Budget proposal had a high allocation for advertisement and comparatively low funding for infrastructure and other development initiatives.
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