Congress today sought to play down West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s ultimatum to the Centre over moratorium on interest payment burden of the State saying “every Chief Minister or State has some legitimate expectations and aspirations and wants the best possible for his or her State.”
Party spokesperson Manish Tewari declined to accept that Ms. Banerjee’s insistence is some threat saying “it is very important that in public discourse, when aspirations are articulated by individuals or States, they should not be seen from the terminology of threat.”
Ms. Banerjee’s demand has come at a time when government’s top priority is to get the Finance Bill passed, which would complete the exercise of the passage of the Union Budget 2012—2013.
Passage of any cut motion to the demands for grants is considered the defeat of the government. For the passage of the budget, all grants have to be passed.
Mr. Tewari virtually blamed the media for seeing Ms. Banerjee’s demand as threat saying “it may make catchy headlines but there is a certain sense of responsibility which all stakeholders in public discourse should exercise.”
Noting that the Central government will have a “constructive approach” towards such demands, Mr. Tewari said” If any Chief Minister has aspirations, which are legitimate and will really benefit people, I am sure the Centre will leave no stone unturned so that its development imperatives are met and will do all that can legitimately be done”.
He, however, declined to answer why the government did not decide on the special package demand of Ms. Banerjee in the last one year saying this can be explained only by someone privy to the negotiations.
Mr. Tewari pointed out that some other States have also been making such demands to cater to their development aspirations and insisted that such aspirations by any one should not be construed as threats.
Mr. Tewari said the track record of UPA shows that in last eight years, the net transfer of resources from the Central government to states have increased and at least doubled.
He claimed UPA has adopted a “non—discriminatory approach” towards States without any political bias in transfer of resources and alleged it was a legacy during the NDA rule, which the Congress—led government buried in last eight years by not differentiating between UPA and non-UPA ruled States.
