While welcoming the recent statements of two State Cabinet Ministers - Madan Kaushik and Satpal Maharaj - complaining to the Centre that the State was not getting financial assistance as per the 14th Finance Commission recommendations, the chief spokesperson of former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, Surendra Agarwal, said on Saturday that the stand of the former Government has been vindicated by the statements. “With the promised 90: 10 ratio for the Centrally sponsored projects eluding the state, the BJP leaders are voicing the same concern repeatedly voiced by the former CM,” he said.
“ Kaushik told the Union urban development minister M Venkaiyya Naidu that under Amrut scheme, despite the Centre agreeing to change the funding pattern from 50: 50 ratio to 90:10 ratio, mere Rs 533 crore had been released and that too under the previous 50:50 pattern. He appealed to the union minister to resume 90:10 pattern and release Rs427 crore more to the state government. This is exactly what the Harish Rawat regime said times without number,” Agarwal said.
“Similarly, under Swachh Bharat Mission, the union government has fixed Rs12000 in the form of cash assistance to each person if he builds toilet in his house with the state and the Centre contributing on 40:60 pattern.
Kaushik demanded the ratio be changed to 90:10 with the Centre bearing the 90 percent expenses. Besides, he demanded the Centre to increase the amount of the sanctioned money to Rs1800 in place of Rs1200 per person under solid waste management in tune with the 90:10 ratio,” Agarwal said, adding that this was what the Harish Rawat Government demanded.
Citing the state tourism minister Satpal Maharaj demanding resumption of religious and tourism circuit, Agarwal said that the BJP leaders had mocked at the ex CM Harish Rawat when he raised the demand. “Now, they are raising the same demand,” he said, adding that the Centre should respect the rights of the state governments working under a federal structure.