Telangana Government to Boycott NITI Aayog Meeting over Fund Allocation Dispute

Telangana's Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced a boycott of the NITI Aayog meeting to protest alleged fund allocation injustices in the 2024 Union Budget. Other Congress-led states, like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, have also announced their intentions to boycott the meeting, terming the budget discriminatory.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy declared on Wednesday that his government would boycott the NITI Aayog meeting set for July 27th. The move aims to protest the central government's perceived injustice in fund allocation to Telangana in the 2024 Union Budget. '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,' Reddy stated in the Telangana Assembly.

Addressing reporters from his residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Reddy criticized the Centre's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' slogan, labeling it false. 'The Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas slogan is bogus. This budget looks like a 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,' he claimed.

In a similar vein, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar revealed today that Congress Chief Ministers have collectively decided to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting. '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 explained to reporters.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal also deemed the Union Budget 2024 discriminatory. He announced on Tuesday that his party's Chief Ministers would boycott the upcoming NITI Aayog meeting. Echoing this sentiment, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin declared his non-attendance, calling the budget 'discriminatory.'

Venugopal took to social media platform 'X,' saying, '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.' The budget, unveiled by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, faced sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who termed it a 'Kursi Bachao Budget.' On the other hand, the ruling party and its allies praised it as a roadmap for a 'Viksit Bharat.' The discord intensified after Sitharaman announced special schemes for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, both led by key BJP allies TDP and JDU. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, added to the criticism, accusing the Finance Minister of making hollow promises.

Rahul Gandhi 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.'

(With inputs from agencies.)