Delhi budget not to be presented tomorrow, says Arvind Kejriwal

The Delhi government's budget, which was supposed to be presented tomorrow, Tuesday, will not be tabled as the Centre has put a hold on hit, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today.

Speaking at News18 India programme on Monday, Kejriwal said the Centre was resorting to "gundagardi". He said it was for the first time in the history of the country that a budget of a government was put on hold.

Sources in the Delhi government said the Ministry of Home Affairs has stopped the Kejriwal government's budget and it will not be tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday.

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In a statement, the MHA said, "The Lieutenant Governor, Delhi, had raised certain concerns of administrative nature on the proposed Budget, keeping in view the fiscal interest of the National Capital Territory on which MHA vide its letter dated 17.03.2023 has requested GNCTD to resubmit the Budget addressing these concerns for taking further action. The reply from GNCTD is awaited for last four days. For the benefit of the people of Delhi, the GNCTD should submit reply immediately."

In a separate statement, Gahlot said, "It is now learned that the MHA expressed some concerns on Delhi government's budget and refused to give it approval through a letter sent to the Chief Secretary on 17 March. For mysterious reasons, the Chief Secretary of Delhi kept the letter hidden for 3 days."

"I learned about the letter only at 2 pm today... The file with MHA's letter was put up to me officially only at 6pm today i.e. just the day before the budget was to be presented in Delhi Assembly. Subsequently, we have responded to MHA's concerns and submitted the file back to Delhi's LG, after CM’s approval, at 9pm today. The role of the Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary of Delhi in delaying Delhi’s budget ought to be investigated," he said.