No High Expectations From Union Budget, Says CM

Congress high command will decide on leadership issue, says Siddaramaiah

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Mysuru

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said here on Friday that he does not have high expectations from the Union Budget, which is being presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, as the central government has failed to release funds for the programmes announced in the previous budget.

He said the Centre had announced Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project in 2023-2024, but has not released funds till date. When they have not released what they announced in the earlier budget, what can we expect in this year's budget, he asked. He accused the Union Government of not doing justice in devolution of taxes.

While the state government is accruing Rs 4.5 lakh crore to the Centre, it is giving back only Rs 60,000 crore to the state. The Centre gave a Rs 5,400 crore loan to NABARD, but cut 58%, affecting the lending capacity of cooperative banks and societies, he pointed out.