The Centre today allocated Rs 790 crore to Delhi for the 2018-19 fiscal in a marginal increase from the last budget, evoking a sharp reaction from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who accused the Centre of "continuing" with its "step-motherly" treatment to the city.
Kejriwal said he had expected some financial assistance for important infrastructure projects in Delhi.
Claiming that the middle class and traders were "completely ignored", the chief minister said that there was nothing for them in the budget.
Expressing disappointment over Delhi's share in central taxes and duties remaining unchanged for 17 years, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the Centre treats Delhi residents as "second-grade citizens".
Out of a total of 790 crore allocated to Delhi in the budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Lok Sabha, the Delhi government was given Rs 449.99 crore as central assistance.
In the previous budget, the Centre had allotted a total of 757.99 crore. The central assistance to the Delhi government was Rs 412.98 crore in the 2017-18 budget.
In the 2018-19 budget, Rs 10 crore has also been given to the AAP government for paying enhanced compensation to the 1984 riot victims. The amount was Rs 15 crore in the 2017-18 budget.
Apart from this, the grant for the Delhi Disaster Response Fund remained unchanged with an allocation of Rs 5 crore.
"I had expected some financial assistance to important infrastructure projects for the nation national capital. Am disappointed that the Centre continues its step-motherly treatment to Delhi," Kejriwal tweeted.
The Delhi government had been demanding that the share in central taxes and duties for it should be increased.
According to it, Delhi's share in central taxes has remained static at Rs 325 crore since 2001-02.
"Disappointing #Budget2018. Not a single extra rupee increased in Delhi's share in Central taxes since 2001-02, stays at Rs 325 Cr. No other part of India gets such treatment (sic)," Sisodia tweeted.
Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said that no plans or schemes have been announced for the Delhi Police while the AAP government's demand for special package for 2,000 electric buses to combat air pollution has also not been addressed.
In a tweet, the deputy chief minister said, "Delhi police comes under Centre. Yet no plans or schemes announced to tackle crime and issues of women safety that have made Delhi the crime capital of India. Highly disappointing #Budget2018! (sic)".
He said that land in Delhi also comes under the Centre, but despite this, no plans have been announced for regularisation of unauthorised colonies and giving more land to Delhi government to build clinics, schools, hospitals and bus depots.
Hitting out at the Union government, he said it does not care for Delhi.
The Centre has also not earmarked any funds to local bodies of Delhi, even though the AAP dispensation had requested for an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore as local bodies grant.
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