Telangana CM Revanth Reddy to Boycott NITI Aayog Meeting

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced on Wednesday that his government will boycott the NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for July 27. This decision is in protest against the central government’s alleged unfair allocation of funds to the state in the 2024 Union Budget. Reddy declared in the Telangana Assembly, “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 further criticized the Centre’s slogan of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,’ labeling it as “bogus.” He remarked, “The Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas slogan is bogus. This budget looks like 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.”

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also supported this stance, stating that Congress Chief Ministers have decided to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting due to the lack of justice for opposition-ruled states from the Centre. He remarked, “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.”

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, criticizing the Union Budget 2024, declared that Congress Chief Ministers would boycott the NITI Aayog meeting, terming the budget discriminatory. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin, an ally of Congress, also announced his boycott, describing the budget as ‘discriminatory.’

Venugopal took to social media platform ‘X,’ stating, “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.”

Following the presentation of the Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, opposition leaders criticized it as a “Kursi Bachao Budget,” while the ruling party and its allies hailed it as a roadmap for a “Viksit Bharat.” Special financial support of Rs 15,000 crore was announced for Andhra Pradesh and development projects worth Rs 58,900 crore for Bihar, both states led by BJP allies.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also criticized the Union Budget 2024-25, accusing the Finance Minister of making hollow promises. He 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.”

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