BJP targets govt on fiscal mismanagement, accuses Centre of discrimination against NDA-ruled states

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New Delhi, Aug 19: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday attacked the Centre over the state of the Indian economy, and accused the Congress led- United Progressive Alliance (UPA) of discriminating against NDA-ruled states.

Addressing a press conference here, former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha said a meeting attended by all Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states and party’s central leadership had decided that they would corner the government over its economic policies.

Comparing the performance of the NDA-ruled states vis-…-vis the overall national economy, Sinha noted that all NDA-governed states had recorded a revenue surplus during the last fiscal, which was a clear sign of productivity.

“The fiscal deficit of Government of India was 6.9 percent last fiscal, while this year it is projected to be 5.1 percent. As against that, the states’ fiscal deficit was 2.3 percent last year. All NDA-ruled states have a revenue surplus. Our states have managed their finances very well. The financial indiscipline of the government has come out in sharp contrast,” Sinha said.

He further said that the NDA-ruled states have recorded a better growth than the national average.

“According to the Eleventh Plan, the NDA-ruled states recorded a national average growth rate one percentage point above the national average, and some of our states like MP, Gujarat, Bihar, have grown in excess of ten percent, largely from agriculture sector,” the former Finance Minister added.

The national average growth rate for last fiscal, as projected in the Eleventh Plan was 8.2 percent.

Sinha went on to attack the Centre for discriminating against the NDA ruled states, accusing the Centre of interfering with states on the issue of mining, and vesting all powers to a central regulator.

“The accepted and evolved norms of federalism in the polity have been thrown to winds,” Sinha remarked. (ANI)