New Delhi: Opposition Leader in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta today said the AAP government should approach the Central Finance Commission for grant-in-aid to “develop” the national capital.
“The Central Finance Commission is an autonomous body. It decides grant-in-aid for states independently. Therefore, the AAP government must approach it for aid,” Gupta said, claiming the central government is responsible for 70 per cent of the total growth and development in the national capital.
The Delhi government had yesterday demanded a special package of Rs 4,000 crore from the Centre to augment public transport in the national capital and pitched for a raise in its share of central taxes, which was last revised 15 years ago, to at least Rs 5,000 crore.
“If the Delhi government is really willing to work for the people of the capital, it should go directly to the Central Finance Commission for its financial problems. The state government has been provided with this constitutional remedy.
“In the past too, many state governments have approached the Central Finance Commission over their financial demands and on the recommendation of the Commission, the central government has helped the states,” Gupta said in a statement.
Gupta said the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister accept recommendations of the Central Finance Commission as they are keen on development of the states.