Jaitley Says No to Naidu’s Demands

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seems to be a relaxed man after he brushed off his hands announcing a namesake package to Andhra Pradesh. While his alliance partner, TDP is struggling to defend the mediocre help to the state, Jaitley is not very much bothered and said No to Naidu’s demands.

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Chandrababu Naidu is insisting on Time Bound and Legally bound framework for this package but Jaitley said No. He reminded how the Polavaram Project is in the Reorganization Act and how Revenue deficit is dealt with 14th Finance Commission which are both constitutionally valid.

He further said the benefits of the Special Status which are promised to be covered through Externally Aided Projects will be ratified by the Union Cabinet and it will be binding on the Union Government. But then, Jaitley did not explain how Manmohan Singh’s word in the house in the position of a Prime Minister became invalid.