Uttar Pradesh is facing a piquant situation. While CM Akhilesh Yadav accuses the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for not releasing funds for the state, PM Narendra Modi accused the state for not utilizing Central funds.
Akhilesh Yadav has been vocal in blaming the Centre for not releasing funds for Health, Irrigation and Power sectors saying that the BJP government was partisan against non-BJP state governments.
“The 14th Finance commission has deprived the state of over Rs 10,000 crore revenue. The PM should intervene and provide additional funds to the state government,” Yadav said.
In recent past, the CM has written a series of letters seeking funds for various projects. On June 22, Yadav asked the PM to provide subsidy on coal freight. On March 15, he asked for another subsidy on food grains for drought-hit people of Bundelkhand while on January 29, Yadav sought a fund of Rs 1500 crore under National Rural Water Mission. On November 11, 2015 Chief Minister has asked for funds under Pradhan Mantri Gramon Sadak Yojana.
But on Friday in Varanasi, PM Narendra Modi was critical of the ruling SP government in UP for non-utilisation of funds to improve the health system.
"The Centre has provided Rs 7,000 crores but till date the UP government has spent just Rs 2,850 crores. This shows that it is not concerned about development of UP,” Modi said.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda, accused the UP government in lagging behind in spending Central funds. "We have given Rs 875 crore to the state but they are yet to spend it.''
SP sokesman and minister Rajendra Chaudhary said that the allegations levelled by the PM were far from truth. “The truth is that the Centre stopped funds for 102/108 Ambulance services because the state government’s work won laurels across the world. This is also true that the SP regime extended help on its own to farmers who lost their crops due to unseasonal rains. We did not wait for Central assistance and when it came it was not enough,” he said.
About allegations on Health sector, Chaudhary said that he was not aware of a special grant of Rs 7000 crore. "To the best of my knowledge, the money sent by the Centre has been utilized," he said.