Sisodia hits out at Centre for Delhi’s ‘step-motherly’ treatment

NEW DELHI: Delhi is a victim of "step-motherly treatment" by the Centre, its Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has alleged and said the Central government is confused if it should treat Delhi as a Union Territory or as a state.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has in the past accused the Centre of "disrupting an elected government" and creating hurdles in its functioning.

It has also been demanding that the share in central taxes and duties for the city should be increased.

"Delhi is a victim of stepmotherly treatment by the centre," Sisodia said on Saturday during a panel discussion here on "Cooperative and Competitive Federalism" at the annual India Conference organised by the prestigious Harvard University.

The Deputy Chief Minister noted that this "step-motherly treatment" was also there during the previous governments at the Centre.

However, senior Haryana Cabinet Minister Captain Abhimanyu asserted that federalism has strengthened under the Narendra Modi government.

Implementation of GST Council is the best example of co-operative federalism in a highly complicated environment.

Earlier, the Delhi government reacted sharply to the Union Budget on Thursday, calling it “disappointing” and accusing the Centre of treating Delhi residents like “secondclass citizens”.

In particular, the Delhi government criticised the Centre for “not increasing Delhi's share in central taxes, which has been stagnant since 2001-02”.

After the Union Budget was presented, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said, “I had expected some financial assistance to important infrastructure projects. I am disappointed that the Centre continues its step-motherly treatment to Delhi.”

The Chief Minister had also tweeted, “There is nothing for the middle class and traders in this budget. Completely ignored.”

His deputy Sisodia had raked up the issue of Delhi's share in central taxes remaining dormant at Rs 325 crore since the 2001-02 Budget.