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Did the Centre neglect Maharashtra in Union Budget 2021 due to political clashes?

The Union budget neglected Maharashtra, which provides the highest amount of revenue every year, due to political clashes in the Union Budget. Apart from that, there were no difference in provisions for the poor, middle class and farmers this year.

Did the Centre neglect Maharashtra in Union Budget 2021 due to political clashes?
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As the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget in Parliament for the financial year 2021-22 on February 1, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government criticised it saying the Centre has neglected Maharashtra and Mumbai, the financial capital of the country.

Moreover, the Budget is not in favour of farmers and common people, but is in the interest of businessmen. Colliding with the central government on issues like the Prime Minister's Dream Project bullet train, has proved to be harmful as BJP has created hurdles for the metro car shed in the state.

Talking about allocation of funds, the MVA government has expressed disappointed stating that step motherly treatment is been given to Maharashtra, while the Centre has favoured other poll-bound states.

Though there is an allocation of INR 25,000 crores for West Bengal, because it goes to polls this year, it is uncertain whether even that State would receive the money.

In the Union Budget, a proposal for a traffic carrier from Bhusaval- to Kharagpur for Maharashtra and construction of a 600 km carrier between Mumbai and Kanyakumari and other development works, was put forth. However, only INR 2,092 crores has been allocated for Nashik Metro Rail Project and INR 5,976 crores for Nagpur Metro but no mention of other railway routes.

Though, INR 64,000 crores has been allocated for the Mumbai-Kanyakumari corridor but ruling government stated that the money for the infrastructure project should be released and not remain only on paper.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in his reaction to the Union Budget, said that any budget should be meant for entire country and, not for poll purpose. Similarly, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also criticized the Union Budget. Besides, the people of Palghar, which is considered as an agricultural district of Maharashtra, expressed satisfaction over what Maharashtra has got in the Union Budget.

While the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission were given a substantial increase in the amount given to Maharashtra, the state government is expressing dissatisfaction. Maharashtra's share in central taxes and duties is 6.317 per cent. Maharashtra funds include corporate rate of INR 12232.48 crores, recipients INR 12430.50 crores, property tax of INR 53 lakh, central GST INR 13584.57 crores, import duty of INR 2540.44, central excise duty INR 1230.24 crores and service tax of INR 25.90 crores.

An expenditure of INR 11.216 crores is proposed for the second phase of Nagpar Metro, under this, a metro rail service will be started on 44 km route. However, only INR 5,976 crores has been allocated in the Union Budget under this. In the second phase of Nagpur, metro service will be expanded in Kamathi, Kanhan, Butibori, Hingna of Orange City. In this, the capacity of passengers traveling by metro will be more than five lakhs. With this, people of Nagpur rural area will get the benefit of metro rail service.

State Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has clearly stated that Maharashtra's injustice has been done in the Union Budget. In order to remove this injustice, MPs from all the parties of Maharashtra have met the Union Finance Minister and said that the people of the state have been eliminated. Whatever the central government has given for Mumbai and Maharashtra, it has given only for metro rail service.

Experts suggest that the Union budget neglected Maharashtra, which provides the highest amount of revenue every year, due to political clashes. Apart from that, there were no difference in provisions for the poor, middle class and farmers this year.

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