Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Criticises Central Government's Budgetary Neglect of Hyderabad
Hyderabad's Deputy Chief Minister, Bhatti Vikramarka, has voiced strong disappointment and termed the central government's latest budget allocations as "disgraceful" for failing to provide crucial funds to Telangana. Speaking to reporters at Praja Bhavan, he highlighted what he described as a pattern of indifference towards the state's legitimate funding requests made in good faith.
Fiscal Deficit Disparity and Sectoral Oversights
Bhatti pointed out that while the Congress government in Telangana had sought an increase in the fiscal deficit limit to 4% to support state development, the central government raised its own limit to 4.3% without extending similar opportunities to states. This move, he argued, exacerbates financial constraints at the state level.
He further lamented that the budget outlined an allocation of 40,000 crore for the electronics sector, yet Hyderabad—recognised nationally as a vibrant hub for electronics innovation—was glaringly overlooked. This omission comes despite the city's established infrastructure and talent pool in this critical industry.
Pharmaceutical Contributions and Orange Economy Relocation
The Deputy CM highlighted Hyderabad's significant role in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic when the city emerged as a critical player in global exports of essential medicines. Despite these achievements, he noted that Telangana failed to receive due prioritisation in funding for this sector.
Adding to his criticisms, Bhatti described the recent decision to relocate the Hyderabad-centric orange economy to Mumbai as another instance of unfair treatment. This move, he suggested, undermines local economic initiatives and reflects broader inequities in central policies towards the state.
Semiconductor Sector Neglect and Sports Inequity
Bhatti underscored Telangana's strong potential in the burgeoning semiconductor industry, emphasising that repeated appeals had been made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allocate at least one such industry to the state. "Regrettably, despite these persistent requests, the central government has continued to sideline Telangana in the semiconductor sector," he stated.
He also pointed to perceived inequities faced by Telangana in sports funding, suggesting that the state's contributions and needs are not adequately recognised in national allocations.
Call for Parliamentary Action and Public Awareness
Observing that the people of Telangana are becoming increasingly aware of these injustices in budgetary allocations, Bhatti announced plans to urge MPs from the state to raise these issues in Parliament. He called for a united front beyond party politics to address what he termed the central government's failure to provide essential resources for economic growth and development in Telangana.
In his concluding remarks, Bhatti criticised the budget for what he sees as a lack of support for the common man and reiterated his commitment to advocating for Telangana's rightful share in national development initiatives.
