Days before Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Mayor Shelly Oberoi has criticized the central government for its alleged “step-motherly” treatment of Delhi.
Oberoi’s comments follow similar accusations made by Delhi Finance Minister Atishi the previous day, targeting the ruling BJP.
In a letter addressed to Sitharaman, Oberoi requested a “fair and equitable” allocation of funds from the Centre for the development and maintenance of Delhi. She stated, “Despite numerous appeals from the Delhi government, no substantial action has been taken to address the issue of disparity in funds.”
The Mayor highlighted that Delhi, as the national capital and a major economic contributor, pays a significant amount in taxes. “In the fiscal year 2023-24, Delhi contributed Rs 2.07 lakh crore in income tax and Rs 25,000 crore in CGST (Central Goods and Services Tax). Yet, the MCD has faced extremely unjust treatment over recent years, receiving no support from the central government,” she said.
Oberoi pointed out that Uttar Pradesh’s urban local bodies (ULBs) receive Rs 13,432 crore annually, Maharashtra gets Rs 7,000 crore, and Bihar receives Rs 6,000 crore. She emphasized, “It is crucial that ULBs are supported with adequate financial resources. The MCD serves 2 crore residents, providing essential services like primary education, healthcare, and solid waste management, similar to ULBs in other states.”
She requested an allocation of Rs 10,000 crore from the central government, which she noted represents only 5% of Delhi’s total tax contribution. Of this amount, Rs 5,000 crore would be used to improve sanitation and cleanliness, Rs 3,000 crore would be allocated for road repairs and upgrades in residential areas, and Rs 2,000 crore would be spent on beautifying and maintaining colony parks.
Oberoi also held a joint press conference with Atishi, where Atishi continued to criticize the central government. On Friday, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva responded sharply, saying, “It is disgraceful that Ms. Atishi, who is demanding Rs 10,000 crore in the budget, ignores the fact that the central government spends over Rs 11,000 crore annually just on the Delhi Police.”