The BJP on Tuesday dismissed as "a political gimmick" Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's plea to the Centre to provide Rs 2,828 crores to Chhattisgarh as GST compensation for 2020-21 by taking a loan from the RBI instead of asking the states to do so.
State BJP President Vishnudeo Sai said in a statement that the Chief Minister had sought to increase the loan limit up to 6 percent in April 2020. The extension was granted. He asked why the Chief Minister did not take the loan.
Sai said the Central government had now given the option to state governments to take loan. Instead the Chief Minister was looking for a new tactic to blame the Central government. This amounts to indulging in "mean politics" amid the global pandemic.
He added that the state government earlier sought from the Centre three months free ration, The Central government announced free ration up to 5 months. Citing adequate quantities of ration within the state, this was not lifted.
The BJP leader accused the state government of failing to prevent Covid-19 from spreading across the state. He said the state is seeking funds from the Central government every now and then.
He urged the Chief Minister to ensure better health services to citizens and respect the federal structure ingrained in the Constitution.