Revenue figures shown by Delhi govt 'inflated', alleges BJP

Terming the Delhi government's maiden budget as a "deficit budget", Opposition leader Vijendra Gupta today alleged that the revenue figures shown by the AAP dispensation were "inflated", and claimed this will cause a financial crisis in the national capital.
Gupta, while participating in a discussion on the Budget tabled by Deputy Chief Manish Sisodia in Delhi Assembly on June 25, also alleged the government has "not introduced" any measure reflecting austerity and expenditure in it.
"Budget proposal shows the budget in surplus of Rs 371 crores but actually there is a fiscal deficit of Rs 417.82 crores," he claimed.
"The revenue receipts are to the tune of Rs 39,984.13 crores whereas the total expenditure is Rs 41,129 crores. Thus there is a deficit of Rs 11,44.87 crores. The receipts include inflated figures," he said in the Delhi Assembly.

The Opposition leader also claimed that there is an "increase" in expenditure in offices of the minister. An additional provision of Rs 50 lakhs has been made compared to last year, raising it to Rs 8 crores.
Accusing the Arvind Kejriwal-led government of "misleading" people on the issue of financial assistance to civic bodies, Gupta said it has proposed a total financial support of Rs 5,908 crores to the local bodies which is 14.4 per cent of the total budget.

"This figure actually includes Rs 1,394 crores which Delhi government collects on behalf of the MCD (municipal corporations of Delhi) and charges 3.5 per cent as collection charges. It also includes Rs 1,664 crores which in fact is part of plan outlay for MCD received from the central government," Gupta claimed.

He also said that the revenue collection figures are "highly inflated".
"The VAT (value added tax) collection has been projected to grow from Rs 18,000 crores to Rs 24,000 crores recording an increase of 600 crores. The government has said with pride that it is not increasing VAT. Then how the 30 per cent increase is proposed to achieved in collection," he said.
On the other hand, all AAP MLAs praised the budget tabled by the city's government.
In the Question Hour, all MLAs raised several issues and asked questions from the ministers concerned.
Meanwhile, AAP MLA Somnath Bharti today brought calling motion on "e-Assembly" and sought to pass it so that work of the House could be made "paperless" in view of the concern for environment.

On Bharti's calling motion, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel sent Bharti's proposal to the Assembly's general committee and asked it to submit its report within 30 days.