New Delhi: Telangana State Finance Minister Eatala Rajender lashed out at Centre's anti-federal spirit in governance and neglect of the interests of the State. Addressing the pre-Budget meet of the Union Finance Ministry here on Saturday, Rajender said the delayed meeting indicated the apathy of the Centre towards the State as it should have been held at least two months before.
This last-minute intervention that gave no time for the Centre to listen to and address the grievances of the States and their concerns showed that it was a mere formality that it was fulfilling, he said. Reminding Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared that the development of the country would be possible only with the development of the States, Rajender asked whether it was not the duty of the Centre to stand by the States in their pro-poor programmes.
Pointing out that the growth rate of Telangana was far higher than that of the country's average at 15 per cent, he said the appeals of the State government for financial help in executing Mission Kakatiya, Water Grid Programme and 'Harita Haaram' had so far been ignored. Fund release for drought programmes and pending CST dues were increasing the burden on the State, he added.
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