Rawat accuses Centre of step-motherly treatment towards Uttarakhand

Chief Minister Harish Rawat said on Tuesday that cut in central fund for Uttarakhand, a state with limited resources, indicated the BJP’s attempts to block its development.  He accused the Centre of meting out step-motherly treatment to the state.

Citing the letter of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Rawat said as against FY 2014-15, Uttarakhand has got deficit of Rs 1,405 crore in FY 2015-16. “Under the 14th Finance Commission’s recommendations, the state suffered a loss of Rs 1,700 crore. And, this digit goes to Rs 2,145 crore, if we add the 10 per cent annual hike,” he said at a press conference.     

He said, “Economic survey and also Jaitley admitted that Uttarakhand has suffered financial deficit under the 14th Financial Commission recommendations.” 

On the allegations of nine Congress rebels shifted to Pink City of Rajasthan, he said, “The state government has earmarked Rs 8,030 crore in the constituencies of these party rebel legislatures for various development work. In Kedarnath, development of Rs 178 crore has been initiated. A nursing college came up in a village of Rudraprayag MLA Harak Singh. We carried out many development projects in Bahuguna’s constituency too. All works during my tenure have been completed, so why is there so much fuss over rebel MLAs.” 

When asked about BJP MLA Bhimlal Arya’s whereabouts, he said, “I don’t know about it. Horse-trading is not in our culture. He always appreciated our development work.”

Taking a dig at the BJP, he said, “From leg-breaking to horse-trading, Uttarakhand’s politics is changing colours in this Holi season.”