Chief Ministers from four states, including three governed by the Congress, are planning to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27. This boycott is a protest against the perceived “neglect” of their states’ demands in the Union Budget.
Chief Ministers from four states, including three governed by the Congress, are planning to boycott the upcoming NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27. The leaders who have decided to skip the meeting are Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah, Telangana’s Revanth Reddy, Himachal Pradesh’s Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
The boycott is in response to what these states perceive as “neglect” of their demands in the recently presented Union Budget. This move underscores the growing discontent among opposition-ruled states regarding the central government’s fiscal policies and their impact on state economies.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal expressed the party’s concerns on the social media platform X, highlighting the discriminatory nature of the Union Budget. “The Union Budget presented today was extremely discriminatory and dangerous, which completely goes against the principles of federalism and fairness that the Union Government must follow. In protest, INC CMs will be boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for 27th July. This government’s attitude is completely antithetical to Constitutional principles. We will not participate in an event that is solely designed to hide the true, discriminatory colours of this regime,” he said.
The Congress leaders argue that the Union Budget is not only biased but also undermines the federal structure of the country by failing to address the needs and demands of opposition-ruled states. They believe that the budget allocations are skewed in favor of states governed by the ruling party at the center, thus marginalizing those led by the opposition.
This boycott by the Chief Ministers is a significant political statement, reflecting the deepening rift between the central government and certain state governments. It also brings to light the broader debate on federalism and the equitable distribution of resources in India. By choosing not to attend the NITI Aayog meeting, these leaders are sending a clear message of dissent against what they see as an unfair and prejudiced approach to governance and resource allocation.
The upcoming NITI Aayog meeting, which aims to discuss developmental issues and policies affecting states, will now proceed without the participation of these key states. The absence of these Chief Ministers is likely to impact the discussions and outcomes of the meeting, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and balanced approach to addressing the concerns of all states in the Union.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced his decision to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting at a press conference on Tuesday evening. He stated that Tamil Nadu has been completely ignored in the Union Budget, and to condemn this, he will boycott the July 27 NITI Aayog meet in Delhi.
Describing the budget as a significant disappointment, Stalin said he felt it appropriate to boycott the NITI Aayog meet because the Centre has totally ignored Tamil Nadu. In addition, DMK MPs will stage a protest in Delhi on July 24 over the Union Budget. “In order to establish Tamil Nadu’s rights, we will continue to fight in the people’s court,” he asserted.
Speaking to reporters, Stalin suggested that the Union Budget favored certain regional parties that helped convert a ‘minority BJP’ into a ‘majority BJP,’ seemingly referring to states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, as reported by news agency PTI. He expressed skepticism about the implementation of the schemes announced for these states.
He highlighted the lack of fund allocation for the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-2, despite the Union government announcing the ‘Metro Rail scheme’ for Tamil Nadu, calling it a deception by the Centre.
Similarly, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Tuesday that his government had decided to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting. He expressed frustration over the Union Budget’s neglect of Karnataka’s demands. “Despite my earnest efforts in calling for an all-party MPs meeting in New Delhi to discuss Karnataka’s essential needs, the Union Budget has neglected our state’s demands,” Siddaramaiah stated.
He criticized Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for ignoring the concerns of Karnataka’s people despite attending the meeting. “We don’t feel that Kannadigas are heard, and hence there is no point in attending the NITI Aayog meeting,” he posted on social media platform X.
“We have decided to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27, as a mark of protest,” he further declared.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah highlighted the neglect of farmers’ demands for the approval of the Mekedatu and Mahadayi projects in the Union Budget. “There was no attempt to rectify their sin of reducing funds to our state under various categories,” he remarked. He added that funding for metro and other infrastructure projects remains a distant dream.
Siddaramaiah criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for focusing only on states like Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. “Modi is unable to see states other than Andhra Pradesh and Bihar because his eyes are on the position of Prime Minister,” he said. “His agenda is exposed in front of the people. We hope the people of our state stand with us in our fight for justice,” the Chief Minister concluded.
Himachal Ignored In Budget: CM Sukhu
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed his disappointment on Tuesday, stating that the hill state has been completely ignored in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Speaking to reporters, Sukhu pointed out the visible discrimination in the budget, noting that NDA allies in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have been rewarded, while Himachal Pradesh’s legitimate claim for a special package to address last year’s monsoon disaster was overlooked. “The discrimination is clearly visible in the budget as the NDA allies in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have been rewarded, but Himachal’s legitimate claim for a special package for last year’s monsoon disaster finds no mention in the budget,” he said.
Sukhu highlighted the financial challenges faced by Himachal Pradesh, particularly due to the cessation of GST compensation, which has put the state in a precarious financial position. “The cessation of GST compensation has put Himachal Pradesh in a precarious financial position, resulting in an annual loss the state can’t afford. A special financial package was urgently needed in the analogy of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh to mitigate this loss and support our state’s fiscal stability,” the chief minister explained.
Terming the budget as anti-poor, inequitable, and not futuristic, Sukhu criticized it as an opportunistic budget that fails to address critical issues. “The budget is anti-poor, inequitable, and not futuristic. It is a total opportunistic budget and fails to address the critical issues of unemployment, rising prices, and growing inequality,” Sukhu stated. He emphasized the need for a budget that supports all states and addresses the diverse challenges they face.
Union Budget 2024–25
On Tuesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2024 in Parliament, introducing significant changes to personal income tax rules. This year’s budget includes several announcements aimed at benefiting farmers and women and addressing the issue of unemployment.
Among the measures, the government has committed substantial support to Andhra Pradesh, pledging Rs 15,000 crore for the development of the state’s capital city this fiscal year and in future years. In her presentation of the Union Budget 2024–25, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also highlighted the government’s plan to provide special financial support for the capital city’s development.
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