On Thursday, Rajasthan CM said that his budget document had sparked conversations across the nation, and political parties campaigning in upcoming elections will be drawing inspiration from it for their manifestos.
He was replying to the discussion on the 2023-24 budget session during the state assembly. He additionally implicated the central government in exhibiting favoritism towards state governments.
While ingratiating his budget that was presented last week, Gehlot said, “The kind of budget presented is being discussed not only in Rajasthan but in the whole country. So, I can claim that I am sending the budget document to all the chief ministers, and I believe that wherever elections are held, all political parties will make their election manifestos based on our budget document.”
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot declared that he had presented a “very grand, all-encompassing development budget” for the state.
He also mentioned, “Our financial management has been excellent. That is why we have been successful in every parameter. And have been able to create such a situation, which can allow us to move forward, keeping social security as the main objective. Otherwise, it would not have been possible to bring such schemes in the education, health, and road sectors.”
Gehlot asserted that the central government was exhibiting bias against the states by increasing their share of taxes from 32 percent to 42 percent and then leveling it back out. He said, “I would like to give an example of how the central government is discriminating against the states. The 15th Finance Commission increased the share of states in taxes from 32 percent to 42 percent, but the central government found a route and equalized all that was increased.”
“The central government has cut the share of the states as well as the new slab of income tax that has been given is misleading everyone,” he said.
He added, “The kind of views expressed by the Prime Minister in the Rajya Sabha and Dausa is unfortunate because the comments you make about the state governments are inappropriate in a federal democracy. The central government should always come forward and help the states.”
The Chief Minister declared that the state government is trying to raise the average income per person.
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