Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan today slammed Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for opposing the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 15th Finance Commission and said there was no reason for fearing a cut in funds to the state.
"Apprehensions expressed by Patnaik in a letter to the Prime Minister about adverse impact on devolution of resources have no basis. There is no reason to oppose the ToR of the 15th Finance Commission," Pradhan, the Petroleum Minister, told reporters here.
Stating that there is provision for rewarding the states which have done well in terms of population control, Pradhan said there is no reason for Patnaik to fear that flow of funds will decline with adoption of 2011 census data as base during the 15th Finance Commission.
Hitting out at the chief minister, the BJP leader said while Patnaik has failed to properly understand the ToR, nobody appeared to have explained the details to him.
Similar apprehensions had earlier been expressed by some states and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have already allayed fears about reduction of flow of funds from the Centre, he said.
"Patnaik has no reason to oppose the ToR as they have provision for enhanced funds in 15th Finance Commission to states which successfully implement different programmes for the welfare and development of people," Pradhan said.
The ToR also has provision for giving greater attention to states which successfully expand their own tax volume, show preparedness to face natural disasters, improve power distribution and grant greater autonomy to panchayat bodies and strengthen them, he said.
"Since the chief minister has been making tall claims about development in all spheres, he has no reason to oppose such ToR," Pradhan said and wondered whether Patnaik is trying to "hide his own weaknesses and failures."
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