"No Delhi Budget Tomorrow": Arvind Kejriwal Versus CentreA new flashpoint is likely to develop between the Delhi government and the BJP-led Central government over the budget of the national capital, scheduled for tomorrow. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that the Centre has "put a stop" to the presentation of the budget. Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, however, contends that he is waiting for the updated budget file from the Delhi government.
"This is the first time in the history of India... The budget of Delhi was to come tomorrow morning, but the Central government has put a stop to our budget. Delhi's budget will not come tomorrow morning," Mr Kejriwal told News 18 India during an interview.
"From tomorrow, the employees of Delhi government, doctors and teachers will not get their salary... This is out and out hooliganism," he had added.
The Delhi government then sought the mandatory approval of the President, by sending a letter to the Home Ministry. The Home Ministry conveyed its observations to the Delhi overnment on March 17, said the LG's Office. "The LG Office is yet waiting for the file to be sent to it from the Chief Minister," it added.
AAP sources said the Delhi government received the file on the budget today and the claim that it was sent to the Delhi government on March 17 is incorrect.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party of "intentionally stalling Delhi's budget".
"The LG, the home ministry, sought some answers, but the Chief Minister did not send the file back... Delhi's budget is stalled only because of AAP, not the home ministry," he added.
Kailash Gahlot, who had taken over the finance portfolio of Manish Sisodia since his arrest, was to present the budget. Like every year, the lion's share of the budget is expected to go to the education and health sectors, which AAP gives primacy to.
In the "Outcome Budget" presented in the assembly today, Mr Gahlot presented the government's key achievements over the last year.
Mr Gahlot later tweeted the highlights, which had special focus on education, health and infrastructure.
1,000 patients are treated daily in Delhi's 515 mohalla clinics, 1,62,288 people avail services each day in 38 hospitals run by the government, he said.
"This is the first time in the history of India... The budget of Delhi was to come tomorrow morning, but the Central government has put a stop to our budget. Delhi's budget will not come tomorrow morning," Mr Kejriwal told News 18 India during an interview.
"From tomorrow, the employees of Delhi government, doctors and teachers will not get their salary... This is out and out hooliganism," he had added.
A statement from the Lieutenant Governor's office, however, said he had approved the Annual Financial Statement with certain observations on March 9 and sent the file to the Chief Minister.BIG BREAKING
दिल्ली में कल बजट पेश नहीं होगा।
भारत के इतिहास में पहली बार ऐसा हुआ है कि कल Delhi Govt का Budget पेश होना था और आज शाम को केंद्र सरकार ने बजट पर रोक लगा दी है।
सीधे-सीधे गुंडागर्दी चल रही है।
-CM @ArvindKejriwal #News18IndiaChaupal pic.twitter.com/lQnA8z4ukD
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 20, 2023
The Delhi government then sought the mandatory approval of the President, by sending a letter to the Home Ministry. The Home Ministry conveyed its observations to the Delhi overnment on March 17, said the LG's Office. "The LG Office is yet waiting for the file to be sent to it from the Chief Minister," it added.
AAP sources said the Delhi government received the file on the budget today and the claim that it was sent to the Delhi government on March 17 is incorrect.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party of "intentionally stalling Delhi's budget".
"The LG, the home ministry, sought some answers, but the Chief Minister did not send the file back... Delhi's budget is stalled only because of AAP, not the home ministry," he added.
Kailash Gahlot, who had taken over the finance portfolio of Manish Sisodia since his arrest, was to present the budget. Like every year, the lion's share of the budget is expected to go to the education and health sectors, which AAP gives primacy to.
In the "Outcome Budget" presented in the assembly today, Mr Gahlot presented the government's key achievements over the last year.
Mr Gahlot later tweeted the highlights, which had special focus on education, health and infrastructure.
In the health sector, the merits of our healthcare system are "recognised globally", he said. The Arvind Kejriwal government's "3-tier health system has provided free medicines, tests and health services to 2 lakh citizens daily, ensuring that quality healthcare reaches the most vulnerable," his tweet read.
1,000 patients are treated daily in Delhi's 515 mohalla clinics, 1,62,288 people avail services each day in 38 hospitals run by the government, he said.