Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and Other Congress Leaders Boycott NITI Aayog Meeting Over Budget Dispute

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 24: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced that his government will boycott the NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for July 27. This decision is a protest against the central government’s alleged unfair allocation of funds to Telangana in the 2024 Union Budget.

Reddy stated in the Telangana Assembly, “As a mark of protest against the Central Government, we, the Telangana Government, are boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting to be held on July 27th. The Centre has violated the rights of Telangana. There is injustice to the state in the allocation of funds.”

On Tuesday, Reddy criticized the central government’s slogan of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,’ calling it “bogus.” He said, “The Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas slogan is bogus. This budget looks like Kursi Bachao Budget. Apart from Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, no state has been given anything. It looks like the PM is trying to save his chair. Telangana has given 35 percent votes to the BJP and eight Parliament seats.”

Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stated that Congress Chief Ministers have decided to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting due to the lack of justice for opposition-ruled states. “There is no ‘Niti’ (policy); it has gone. There is no justice here. So, our leaders have decided in the interest of the protest over no proper representation in the budget,” Shivakumar told reporters.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal also announced that his party’s Chief Ministers would boycott the NITI Aayog meeting, terming the Union Budget 2024 discriminatory. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin, a key ally of the Congress, has also said he would not attend the meeting, calling the budget ‘discriminatory.’

Venugopal stated, “The Union Budget presented today was extremely discriminatory and dangerous, which completely goes against the principles of federalism and fairness that the Union Government must follow. In protest, INC CMs will be boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for 27th July.”

After the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the first Budget in Narendra Modi 3.0, the Opposition parties criticized the Centre, terming the budget as “Kursi Bachao Budget,” while the ruling party and its allies said it was the roadmap for a “Viksit Bharat.”

The Opposition’s criticism followed Sitharaman’s announcement of special schemes for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Andhra Pradesh received Rs 15,000 crore for developing its capital, Amaravati, and Bihar received development projects worth Rs 58,900 crore. These states are led by TDP and JDU, key allies of the BJP.

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, criticized the Union Budget 2024-25, accusing the Finance Minister of making hollow promises. He tweeted, “Kursi Bachao Budget. Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states. Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian. Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets.”