Modi govt provides funds to all states, does not discriminate, says FM

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday dismissed the Opposition’s criticism that the budget has accorded special treatment to states run by supporting parties, saying that those whose alliance got less than 230 seats have no right to question it as the Centre has provided funds to all states.

On the issue of Rs 60,000 crore projects announced for Bihar and pledge to get multilateral assistance for the state and Andhra Pradesh, she said, Rs 1. 5 lakh crore assistance has been promised for all states in the budget.

“The Indi alliance (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) together could not cross 230 seats while BJP alone has reached 240 and with the pre-election alliance, we have formed government comfortably under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is historic,” she said in a customary post-budget media briefing.