NAGPUR: Painting a grim picture of the state’s financial condition, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday said that the revenue shortfall in 2020-21 might go up to Rs one lakh crore. The size of the state budget for 2020-21 was about Rs4.5 lakh crore.
Addressing a ‘Meet the Press’ at Nagpur Patrakar Club, Pawar, who is also state finance minister said, “The revenue shortfall at present is Rs75,000 crore. If we don’t get expected amount of revenue from state sources and if Centre does not give our full share of taxes, then the deficit may go up to Rs one lakh crore.”
The finance minister claimed that Central government’s payment of the state’s share of taxes was short by Rs25,000 crore.
“In spite of the poor financial condition, we have not reduced allocation to important departments like public health, home etc. The Central government has stopped MP fund for two or three years but we have increased MLA fund to Rs three crore,” said Pawar.
The NCP leader slammed the Central government over handling of farmers’ agitation. “They put nails on roads to prevent farmers from reaching Delhi. This has happened for the first time after Independence. The Central government did not allow MPs including Supriya Sule to meet the agitating farmers. Why can’t public representatives meet protesters in a democracy,” he said.
Replying to a query regarding the speech delivered by Sharjeel Usmani at Elgar Parishad in Pune, Pawar said that in future the government may ask the organizers to not allow certain persons to express their views during the event if it feels their statements can create discord in society.
Pawar indirectly chides Raut
Without naming energy minister Nitin Raut, Ajit Pawar chided him for announcing populist decisions without asking others. Raut had announced that he would provide free power to all up to 100 units. Pawar had shot down the proposal.
When asked whether Raut had behaved irresponsibly, Pawar said, “It is not the question of Raut. The principle applies to everybody. Don’t announce policies that burden the treasury without consulting others. Before announcing any sop you should know whether the treasury can bear the burden. This principle was followed during the Congress-NCP rule in the state.”
When pointed out that by rejecting Raut’s proposal he had become the villain in the eyes of common people, Pawar said, “I don’t mind that. However, we paid Rs15,000 crore to MSEDCL for waiving off interest on farmers’ power bills.”