On revival path: Sitharaman lauds Khattar govt for fiscal prudence
FM Nirmala Sitharaman says Haryana made no additional borrowing during pandemic; rise in revenue receipts indicates Indian economy back on track
CHANDIGARH: The Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP-JJP coalition government in Haryana has been consciously making efforts and managing its fiscal affairs in an objective way, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday.
“Haryana has been managing its finances very well. It made no additional borrowing during the pandemic,” Sitharaman said at a press conference in Chandigarh.
The Union finance minister was on a day-long visit to Haryana to attended a seminar in Panchkula organised by the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as part of its 20-day long ‘Sewa and Samarpan’ programme coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 71st birthday.
The BJP’S central leadership is visiting Bjp-ruled states to attend the functions kicked-off on September 17.
During this campaign concluding on October 7, the Haryana BJP has planned to hold 71 blood donation camps and plant 71,000 saplings, besides conducting seminars on 71 big ticket policies and programmes of the Centre.
According to the Union finance minister, one immediate indicator of Haryana “managing its fiscal affairs in a balanced and objective way” was during the Covid-19 pandemic when the state didn’t utilise its additional borrowing capacity that the Centre had increased.
Stating that each state has its own strengths and challenges, Sitharaman said there is no harm in borrowing additionally because the states have activities for which they need funds.
“But Haryana is one state which did not utilise its additional borrowing capacity that we gave... Haryana is managing its fiscal matters well,” she said, pointing out that during her meeting with Khattar, she as a matter of ‘curiosity’ touched the issue of Haryana not opting for additional borrowing.
Responding to a question, the Union finance minister said she could see clearly “the good signs of revival of economy”. The revenue collection (both GST and direct taxation) going up is an indicator of revival, she said.
The half-yearly target of revenue collection, she said, has already been achieved.
The GST collection in the region on an average is somewhere over Rs 1 lakh crore per month, she said.
“These are not small indicators and not some sporadic indicators either... they clearly show that the economy is on a sustained path of revival,” Sitharaman added.
Will extend all possible help to Punjab: FM
On Punjab accusing the Centre of adopting a “biased” funding formula (60:40 sharing ratio) while releasing funds under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP), the Union minister dismissed the allegations, saying there are some guidelines for deciding the ratio of border area funds.
“We are not punishing Punjab... it is being done on recommendation of the finance commission. I want to assure that I will do all that is possible to help Punjab,” she said.