Decoding AAP Govt's Financial Crisis

Political slugfest over Delhi’s ₹5K crore demand from the Centre

- Gulam Jeelani

The demand of Rs 5,000 crore financial assistance by the Delhi government does not seem to have gone too well in the political corridors of the national Capital. A political slugfest has broken out while the Delhi government is trying to justify its financial plea.

While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government says its revenue has dried up in the last two months of lockdown to combat Coronavirus epidemic, the BJP and the Congress has accused the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation of wasting the money meant for public welfare.

It all started on Sunday when Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia said that he has sought immediate assistance of Rs 5,000 crore from the Centre to pay salaries to its employees. Sisodia, who is also Delhi’s Finance Minister, said he had written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for help. He said that Delhi did not receive money sanctioned to states.

₹3,500 cr needed by Delhi govt every month just to pay salaries and bear office expenses.