New Delhi, July 23 (FN Representative) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Tuesday described the budget as dashing the hopes and aspirations of Delhi’s residents, stating that the city has not received a single rupee from the Central Government in the 2024-25 budget under the Share in Central Taxes.
Addressing the media, Atishi said, “The people of Delhi had demanded from the Central Government that they should get 5% of the money they pay as tax, but the Central Government has not fulfilled the demand of the people of Delhi.” Atishi highlighted that the central government provides financial assistance to local bodies across the country, similarly, the people of Delhi were also demanding to give 5% of their tax to MCD, but the central government has not given even a single rupee. “In the 2024-25 budget, Rs 1.24 lakh crore has been allocated to various states, and Rs 82,207 crore has been given to different local bodies across India. However, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) did not receive any funds,” Atishi claimed. “Last year, Delhi gave Rs 2 lakh 7 thousand crores to the Central Government in the form of Income Tax and Rs 25 thousand crores in the form of CGST,” she pointed out.
“That means the people of Delhi paid taxes worth Rs. 2 lakh 32 thousand crores to the central government. But despite this, nothing has been given to Delhi in this budget,” she alleged. “In the last 11 years, the BJP central government has done nothing for Delhi. The people of Delhi pay a tax of 40 thousand crores to the Delhi government every year. With this tax of 40 thousand crores, the Kejriwal government provides many facilities to the people of Delhi including excellent government schools, mohalla clinics, 24-hour free electricity and free bus travel for women,” she crticised. “The people of Delhi pay Rs 2 lakh 32 thousand crores every year as tax to the BJP-ruled central government, but the central government does not give anything to the people of Delhi. The BJP government at the center has not done a single work for Delhi in the last 11 years,” she said. “Just like the British government used to loot the money of the people of India, similarly the BJP central government is looting the money of the people of Delhi,” Atishi criticised. The central government has reduced the budget of the health sector. Last year, 1.98% was allocated for health. This time, it has been reduced to 1.85%. The total budget of Ayushman Bharat is only Rs 7 thousand crores, whereas the health budget of a small state like Delhi is Rs 9 thousand crores, she alleged. “These figures clearly show that the Central Government has no intention of working for the country and the people,” Atishi added.