The Centre on Thursday hoped that “some political solution” would emerge paving the way for the formation of a popular Government in Delhi as political parties questioned the delay in this regard and said it was hurting infrastructure in the national Capital. Delhi was placed under President’s Rule in February when AAP Government quit after remaining in power for 49 days.
“I hope some political solution will come out to help in Government formation or fresh elections will be held in Delhi,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, while replying to a debate on the Delhi Budget in the Rajya Sabha. The Rs 36,766 crore Delhi Budget was returned by the Upper House by voice vote, a day after lok Sabha passed it.
Jaitley was responding to Opposition’s contention that the absence of a popular Government in Delhi was affecting infrastructure, especially in power and drinking water supply. Parties like Congress and SP wanted to know how long the President’s Rule would continue as they contended that this was affecting governance in the national Capital.
To a suggestion on extending power subsidy to consumers from April to September this year, Jaitley said subsidies are only prospective and never retrospective. Noting that Delhi is a city of business, he said of the Rs 36,766 crore Delhi Budget, Rs 31,570 crore was collected through taxes from Delhi alone and Rs 1,161 crore came from non-tax revenue while Central Government’s grant-in-aid for Delhi was to the tune of Rs 3,672 crore.