Telangana Minister Criticizes Piyush Goyal's Comments
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Telangana Minister D. Sridhar Babu criticizes Union Minister Piyush Goyal's comments about southern states' funding requests, calling for recognition of their contributions and fair treatment in budget allocations. The state government expresses concern over perceived injustices in the Union Budget.
Key Takeaways
- D. Sridhar Babu condemns Piyush Goyal's remarks.
- Calls for fair recognition of Telangana's contributions.
- Criticism of the Union Budget for perceived injustices.
- Emphasis on treating states as equal partners in development.
- Concerns over tax allocation and revenue distribution.
Hyderabad, Feb 12 (NationPress) Telangana's Minister for Industry and Information Technology, D. Sridhar Babu, has criticized Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal for his remarks suggesting that states such as Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are engaging in "petty thinking" by requesting funding proportional to their tax contributions.
The state minister expressed his discontent through the social media platform 'X' on Wednesday, responding vehemently to Goyal's statements made during the 'Rashtriya Ekatmata Yatra 2025', an event organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the 'Students Experience in Inter-State Living (SEIL)' initiative.
"Your remarks regarding Telangana's call for its rightful share of allocations in the Union Budget are deeply troubling. Our appeal is about acknowledging the contributions made by our state and other southern states. To label this as 'petty thinking' undermines the hard work and commitment of the people of Telangana and South India," Sridhar Babu stated.
"We significantly contribute to the nation’s revenue, and it is only right that we receive our fair share. We anticipate that the Union government will recognize this and appreciate our role in India’s economic growth. Telangana is vital in propelling India's economy forward," the minister elaborated.
"We deserve to be recognized as equal partners in development, rather than merely as sources of revenue. We call on the Union government to adopt a more inclusive strategy that honors the contributions of all states, particularly those in South India. We seek fairness, respect, and our rightful allocation of resources," added Sridhar Babu.
The Congress-led government in Telangana has claimed that significant injustice was inflicted upon the state in the Union Budget for 2025-26 presented in Parliament on February 1.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka mentioned that the Union Budget lacked an understanding of and commitment to the unique challenges and developmental priorities of states, especially Telangana.
Vikramarka, who oversees the Finance portfolio, noted that the Union Budget strategically lowered customs duties on specific goods while raising cesses. He warned that such actions would further diminish the divisible tax pool, reducing the state’s share in devolution.
