Fiscal, Debt Management Worst In Telangana: Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman today said that it was not mandatory to fix metres for agricultural motors, but that if any State government wanted to get loans beyond the permissible limits, it needed to implement certain reforms like track how much power was being consumed at what source and how much was being paid for that.

She said that since the Telangana government refused to do that, it was not allowed to borrow beyond the allowed limits.

Speaking to media persons, Sitharaman said, "Power generation companies are at the receiving end as the discoms are unable to pay them for the power supplied. We have not stopped any funding for not fixing metres to motors as alleged by the BRS leaders. The accusation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi stopped the funds is factually incorrect. We merely stated that they needed to implement certain reforms if they wanted to take additional loans at some low interest. They are free not to take those loans."

She also said that it would take 2-3 generations for Telangana to repay the debt taken by the present government. "The Telangana statehood struggle was for three goals - water, funds and jobs - and on all these the State goverment has failed. A revenue-surplus State has become debt-ridden. Even Hyderabad, which has receive investments for several decades and which can attract plenty more investment due to its skilled and trained youth, has now turned a revenue-deficit city. The inflation in the State is amongst the highest in the country. The BRS government has completely failed to manage Telangana's fiscal and debt management. What will happen if it comes to power again?" she asked.

"The BRS is in a confused state. The Chief Minister wants to become the Prime Minister, but there is nobody coming forward to support him. His own State itself has been totally destroyed financially. I request the people to understand. If any State wants to give freebies let them show it in budget, make a provision and then give it. Many States are making promises and distributing freebies, but are unable to pay for them at the end. They are not concerned about the prevailing economic conditions," the union finance minister said.

"The mismanagement is rampant. Another example is the Kaleshwaram project into which investment increased to three times the original amount, to more than Rs 1.2 lakh crore. Despite that, there was poor quality of construction, reflected in the sinking of pillars. As for jobs, the Biswal Committee mentioned about 1.9 lakh government job vacancies in the State, but nothing close to them have been filled. Instead, the TSPSC recruitment papers have gotten leaked 17 times. And what happened to social justice? Instead of making a dalit the Chief Minister, KCR removed the Deputy CM of Telangana Thatikonda Rajaiah from the position within just one year. And why were only Rs 76 crore spent out of the total allocation of Rs 3,300 crore for education?" she also asked.

She also said that more than 6,000 farmers had committed suicide in Telangana after the formation of the State.

Responding to a question, the union minister said that the BJP government had filled about eight lakh posts across the country, and that another two lakh jobs would be filled in the next two months. She also explained the various issues mentioned in the BJP's manifesto, and said that Telangana Liberation Day would be observed by the party officially after "coming to power in the State".