Launching a scathing attack on L-G for opposing Delhi Budget on directions of the Centre, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that VK Saxena had no constitutional right to stall the Budget. He, however, again hooted for state-Central government cooperation for the development of the national capital.
The Centre and the AAP-led Delhi Government have been trading barbs over the Delhi Budget after the latter alleged that the former had stalled it through the L-G. The MHA, however, approved the Budget earlier in the day. The move came after CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him not to stop Delhi Budget for 2023-24. Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot had even resent the budget to the Union home ministry for approval.
Addressing the Assembly, the CM without taking any names came down heavily on the Centre and said, "Illiterates filled from top to bottom... The budget had to be presented today. The Centre stopped it. We replied to MHA's query without making any changes to the budget and they have approved it now. They wanted me to bow down. It's their ego and nothing else." The MHA had sought clarification from the AAP government as its budget proposal had high allocations for advertisement and relatively low funding for infrastructure and other development initiatives.
'Want to work with elder brother'
"The Delhi government wants to work and not fight. We are tired of fighting and it serves no one. We want to work together with the prime minister, we do not want any tussle," he said. Kejriwal said if the prime minister wishes to win Delhi, he will have to win the hearts of the people of the city first. "This is my mantra to him."
"You are the elder brother and I am the younger brother. I will reciprocate if you support me. If you want to win the heart of the little brother, love him," he said. Kejriwal also said the practice of sending the Delhi government's budget to the Centre for approval is against the basic structure of the Constitution and democracy.
