MHA Awaiting Delhi Govt's Reply Since March 17: Centre Hits Out After Allegation Of 'Stalling' Budget

Amid the row between the AAP and the Centre over the Delhi Budget, Anurag Thakur said that MHA has conveyed its observations to Delhi Govt and is waiting for the reply since March 17.

Amid the row between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Centre over the Delhi Budget, Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday said that MHA has conveyed its observations to Delhi Govt and is waiting for the reply since March 17, as reported by the news agency ANI. Thakur further said that it is wrong to blame the Central Government for something which is pending in the hands of Delhi Government. 

Speaking to ANI, "Thakur said Delhi LG VK Saxena approved Annual Budget for 2023-24 with certain observations and sent the file to CM. Now Delhi Govt has sent the file to MHA for approval of President. MHA has conveyed its observations to Delhi Govt and is waiting for the reply since 17 March". It is wrong to blame the Central Government for something which is pending in the hands of Delhi Government, he added.

The state budget has been approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The approval has been conveyed to Delhi Government, as reported by ANI.

Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Tuesday said the budget file has been resent to the home ministry for approval, as reported by the news agency PTI.  Addressing the Delhi Assembly, Gahlot said the budget was stalled on Monday. He said the file has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs physically and through mail for approval.

The presentation of the Delhi government's budget for 2023-24, scheduled for Tuesday, was put on hold, with the Arvind Kejriwal-led dispensation and the central government trading charges over allocations in various heads. As the Delhi CM Kejriwal lashed out at the Centre, the MHA said the ministry has sought clarification from the AAP government as its budget proposal had high allocation for advertisement and relatively low funding for infrastructure and other development initiatives, PTI reported citing sources. 

The file, after addressing the MHA's concerns, was sent to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Monday night, who approved it and sent it back to the government. The government then sent it to the MHA. Talking about the issue in the Assembly, Gahlot said after the LG's approval, the file was sent to the finance secretary on Monday night.

"What is the purpose of having an elected CM, cabinet, ministers if they can not even pass budget? It's an attempt to stop the government from functioning and harass people," Gahlot alleged, as quoted by PTI.