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Members of the BJP delegation with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on April 25.[/caption]
Dimapur, April 25 (EMN): The Nagaland unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sought special central assistance for Nagaland in the form of a one-time grant of INR 1400 crore to ‘wipe out the budgetary deficit and also provide the long due and pending amount of INR 863 crore for completion of pending SPA projects sanctioned by erstwhile Planning Commission and also recommended by Niti Aayog.’
A delegation from the party comprising ministers and party leaders has requested the central government to waive the state’s share for ‘CSS, NEC and NLCPR’ projects as Nagaland ‘does not have any resources to provide the state’s share and do not get any money under the so called centrally sponsored schemes.’
The delegation was composed of Y Patton, S Pangyu Phom, P Paiwang Konyak, Jacob Zhimomi, Temjen Imna Along, V Kashiho Sangtam, Tovihoto Ayemi, Dr. Longriniken, Kazheto Kinimi, H Khehovi Yepthomi and Visazolie Lhoungu. They presented this supplication during a meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, at his official residence in New Delhi on April 25.
A press release issued by PRO (IPR) of Nagaland House at New Delhi, Kuolie Mere, stated that Patton had told the Union home minister that Nagaland had been ‘lacking in economic viability since its inception.’ He referred to the historic 16-Point Agreement that Nagaland would need central grants both for administrative expenses as well as development.
Patton stated that the development needs for Nagaland for many years were met by liberal grants by state plans whether by way of additional central plan assistance or by way of special plan assistance. They were however stopped with the replacement of Planning Commission by Niti Aayog. He added that even the enhancement in devolution by the 14th Finance Commission did not have additional positive impact on the finances of the state ‘because of it being revenue deficit.’ Had there been no enhancement in devolution, Patton felt that Nagaland would have got a much larger revenue deficit grant.
“So that reality is that the State is actually receiving share in central taxes at much lower rate than what was computed by 14th Finance Commission due to much lesser realisation of central taxes vis-a-vis what was estimated by Finance Commission, because of which there is a huge budgetary deficit,” the press release stated.
The press release also pointed out that as there were no resources available to meet the state’s share to avail centrally sponsored schemes, there was no funds for ‘development of the state.’
The delegation has requested that two immediate special packages of ‘untied funds must be sanctioned to meet development needs of most backward areas of eastern Nagaland and also for creating an airport in Kohima.’
The delegation also urged the central government ‘to realise that a revenue deficit state such as Nagaland cannot develop at all if central assistance is not provided for.’
The BJP leaders also sought an immediate solution to the Naga political issue ‘because the people of Nagaland had agreed to an election this time only in anticipation of a quick solution to the long lasting problem which also hinders the state’s development.’
