Should the CAG Report on AAP Governance Be Sent to the PAC?

New Delhi, Aug 7 (NationPress) In a strong critique of the former AAP administration regarding corruption, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday urged the formal submission of a CAG report on the financial accounts for 2023-24 to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for an in-depth inquiry.

During her address in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, CM Gupta launched a fierce indictment of the former government, accusing them of misleading the public by presenting free schemes as their exclusive offerings, while in reality, they were misusing taxpayer money.

"The populace expected their tax contributions to be allocated towards infrastructure such as roads, schools, and hospitals. Instead, their hard-earned money was redirected towards so-called free programs," the Chief Minister asserted.

CM Gupta further emphasized that the previous administration intentionally disregarded developmental projects, focusing solely on publicity and propaganda.

Addressing the CAG report concerning the financial accounts and appropriations for the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi for 2023-24, CM Gupta held the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) responsible for mismanagement and lack of genuine effort to initiate progress.

The Chief Minister anticipated that once the CAG report was presented, the Opposition would either leave the House or attempt to shift the blame entirely onto the Central Government.

They would argue that they had received neither financial aid nor grants from the Centre. However, the factual situation is that the Central Government had allocated a grant of Rs 4,800 crore to Delhi.

CM Gupta also remarked on the previous regime's failure to implement various crucial development schemes, associating them with the Prime Minister. "Their malice extended to this extent," she noted.

The Chief Minister highlighted the necessity to scrutinize fund utilization: Rs 463 crore was spent on water supply, Rs 482 crore on free bus services, and Rs 3,250 crore on the free electricity initiative.

"Consequently, the entire grant was consumed by these so-called freebie schemes," she remarked.

Referring to the CAG report, CM Gupta indicated that the total revenue of the previous government was entirely consumed by expenditures—salaries, interest payments, and other costs that do not yield permanent assets.

She pointed out that in the financial year 2022–23, the Delhi government had a revenue surplus of Rs 4,566 crore, but this entire amount was dissipated. Consequently, in 2023–24, the government faced a deficit of Rs 3,934 crore, with a combined deficit over the two years nearing Rs 8,600 crore.

Additionally, the Chief Minister disclosed a 50 percent reduction in public health expenditure, with 24 hospitals whose foundations had been laid remaining incomplete to this day.

Areas like education and sports experienced a 42 percent cut, while road construction and public works saw reductions of up to 40 percent.

She labeled this as a clear indicator of negligence towards public welfare and a misallocation of resources.