While BJP has been targeting Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao accusing him of diverting central funds, without spending them for specified purposes, the Union Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal came to his rescue in the Rajya Sabha. Indicating that BJP’s accusations are far from truth, the minister, who is also a senior leader of the BJP, said that there is no diversion in utilization of funds has come to the notice of his ministry so far from that state.
Replying to a question raised by TRS member Dharmapuri Srinivas, the Union Minister said that Rs. 900 crore have been released to Telangana State as special assistance. In terms of Section 94 (2) of Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act, 2014 and on recommendations of NITI Aayog, he said that Special Assistance of Rs. 900 crore @ Rs.50 crore per district for nine backward districts of Telangana viz. Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Medak, Mahbubnagar, Rangareddy, Nalgonda and Khammam has been released during 2015-16 and 2016-17.
These grants are special assistance by the Central Government to Telangana for the development of physical and social infrastructure in the backward districts and the state government has been utilising the same for development of road network in backward districts of the State. No deviation in utilisation has come to the notice of the Ministry so far, the Union Minister added.
It may be recalled that even BJP chief Amit Shah during his visits to the state accused that Chandrasekhar Rao government is not spending funds provided by the centre for specified purposes, so that extending desired benefits to the people.
Almost with similar allegations, the Telangana TDP leaders are planning for `Delhi Yatra’ later this week to meet union ministers and register their complaints against alleged `misuse of central funds’ by the state government. However, unexpectedly union minister came to the rescue of Chief Minister almost refuting opposition allegations.
