With five BJP-ruled states set to go for Assembly polls in a few months, the party held a conclave of its Chief Ministers on Saturday to discuss the economic growth in their states and accused the Centre of giving them “step-motherly” treatment in fund disbursement.
Party sources said the main theme of the one-day meet of BJP Chief Ministers, Deputy CMs and Leaders of the Opposition here was to discuss the “policy paralysis” in the Congress-led UPA government.
They also dwelt on how the Centre’s alleged “discriminatory” attitude towards opposition-ruled states in distribution of funds and implementation of schemes was affecting them.
All Chief Ministers, including Narendra Modi (Gujarat), Prem Kumar Dhumal (Himachal Pradesh), Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh), Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh) and Jagadish Shettar (Karnataka), who are set to face elections within a year, accused the Centre of neglecting their demands.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and Punjab’s senior-most BJP Minister Chunni Lal also attended the conclave, along with Goa CM Manohar Parrikar. Jharkhand was represented by a senior minister Vimla Pradhan.
In his speech at the conclave, the Gujarat CM attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the problems in sanction of Central funds to his state. He alleged RBI has increased interest rates 13 times, which has affected investment.
He further argued central Ministers try to take credit for the allocated funds which the states are rightfully entitled to. UPA is showing overall disrespect to the clear boundaries between the states and Centre’s functions outlined in the Constitution, he charged.
What a state gets is mandated by the Finance Commission and the Planning Commission, Mr. Modi added.
