FM Sitharaman: No cut in funds to states, release now tied to delivery | India News

New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Dr Nirmala Sitharaman Thursday said the Centre’s funds are not a “free pool of cash that can be used at will”, stressing that every rupee of the taxpayer is accounted for and no state or scheme is denied or stopped funding. Dismissing the opposition’s allegations that funds have been reduced, he said their release is linked to distribution on the ground.Answer to above discussion Budget At RS, FM said India is on a strong growth trajectory with low unemployment and a broad middle class. Sitharaman said India is witnessing a rare macro-economic phase of high growth and low inflation, enabled by sustained efforts, planning, timely interventions and reforms. He said the budgetary measures show the resolve to build a resilient and self-reliant India.On the criticism of the welfare fund, Sitharaman said, “Earlier, success was measured by how much money was pumped in without ascertaining the expenditure. This created a huge float. We now have perfect transparency. We don’t release funds to blindly book expenditure; we only release them when needed at the ground level. There is no stoppage or denial or rejection of state funds. The tax payer is accounted for. Center funds are not free pools of cash. These are the hard-earned contributions of every Indian.”Attacking the Congress for raising “crocodile cries over rising debt”, he said the opposition wants the government to borrow more and release funds to states. “Government can’t borrow too much. That policy guides us. Congress is obsessed with spending, but we only pay for results. We want results,” he added.Sitharaman dismissed allegations of high inflation, saying inflation is at historic lows and there is no inflationary crisis today. “Inflation has been contained due to stability and measures taken by the government. Growth without jobs was the story of the UPA-era,” he said.He attacked the TMC-led Bengal government, alleging that it did not implement centrally funded welfare schemes, depriving people of benefits. He also countered the DMK’s claim that no big-ticket announcements were made for vote-friendly Tamil Nadu by listing the budget proposal for the state.Responding to former finance minister P Chidambaram’s comment that the budget was “forgettable”, Sitharaman said, “Budgets never forget the past. Cherish a glorious past, but learn from a tarnished past and avoid repeating mistakes.” The comments came amid an ongoing political tussle in Parliament.