Telangana BJP Leader Lambasts State Budget as 'Paper Budget' with Severe Underspending
In a sharp critique of the Telangana state budget, BJP floor leader A Maheshwar Reddy launched a scathing attack on Tuesday, dismissing the financial estimates as mere 'Bhatti estimates' and 'Revanth receipts' rather than legitimate revenue projections. During the heated budget discussion in the assembly, Reddy asserted that the document presented by the government is nothing more than a 'paper budget,' highlighting a persistent pattern of underspending that plagues the state's fiscal management.
Consistent Underspending and Lack of Fund Utilization
Maheshwar Reddy pointed out that the Telangana government consistently fails to utilize even 80% of the allocated budgetary funds, raising serious questions about the practicality and implementation of the budget. "How are we supposed to understand a budget that doesn't even utilise the entire amount?" he questioned, emphasizing that this undermines the very purpose of financial planning. He further noted that Telangana stands alone as the only state in India with such a record of consistent underspending, a fact corroborated by reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Cuts in Welfare and Agriculture Budgets Spark Controversy
The BJP leader also slammed the government for its failure to allocate funds for the six guarantees promised to the people. He highlighted alarming budget cuts in key areas:
- Welfare programmes for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Backward Classes (BC) have seen significant reductions, while minority welfare received an increase of over Rs 3,000 crore.
- The Rythu Declaration, aimed at supporting farmers, remains unimplemented, with the agriculture budget also facing substantial slashes.
- Funds allocated for women's loans have decreased, prompting Reddy to ask, "How are loans supposed to be offered to women when their allocated funds have diminished?"
Political Clash Over Budget Allocations and Central Government Role
The debate took a contentious turn when women and child welfare minister Seethakka intervened, defending the budget cuts. She argued that reductions in funds for rural employment schemes were a direct result of cuts imposed by the central government. Seethakka stated, "The Centre has only imposed draconian laws against farmers in the country," shifting the blame to the national administration and highlighting the ongoing political friction between state and central authorities over fiscal policies.
This exchange underscores the deep-seated issues in Telangana's budgetary process, with accusations of poor fund utilization, biased allocations, and political blame games dominating the discourse. The controversy raises critical concerns about governance, transparency, and the effective delivery of public services in the state.
