By Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has criticised Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for ignoring Telangana in the Union Budget 2024 presented on Tuesday.
Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy.
Mr. Reddy said that the budget was politically motivated and drafted not for the people but to please Bharat Janata Party’s (BJP) allies: Janata Dal (U) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). While Bihar was given financial aid of ₹41,000 crore, Andhra Pradesh got ₹15,000 crore and other sops, including funds for completion of the Polavaram project. Congress-ruled States, especially Telangana, were totally neglected, he said.
Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, has strongly criticized Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for allegedly neglecting Telangana in the Union Budget 2024. Presented on Tuesday, the budget was described by Reddy as politically motivated, designed to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) allies, such as the Janata Dal (United) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), rather than addressing the needs of the general populace.
Reddy pointed out that while Bihar received a significant financial aid package amounting to ₹41,000 crore and Andhra Pradesh was allocated ₹15,000 crore along with other incentives, including funds for the completion of the Polavaram project, Congress-ruled states like Telangana were left out. He accused the central government of partiality and asserted that Telangana, despite its contributions, was being deliberately sidelined.
The minister’s critique highlights the ongoing political friction between the state and central governments, emphasizing the perceived inequities in the distribution of central funds and support for developmental projects. Reddy’s comments underscore the broader concerns among non-BJP-ruled states about the central government’s budgetary priorities and its implications for regional development.
