Revise formula for devolution of Central funds to states: Badal

LUDHIANA: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the Centre should "impartially" disburse the taxes collected from states to ensure overall development of the country.

It is the need of the hour to revise the formula for devolution of Central funds because the states need more funds for their primary developmental needs, he told reporters here.

Badal administered the oath to newly elected Sarpanchs and Panchs of Ludhiana district.

He said that the states should be given more share in taxes collected from them adding that the allocation of funds to the states should be made growth dependent, so as to encourage them to perform better.

Laying stress on the need for strengthening federalism by increasing devolution of Central funds, he said that if more funds were placed at the disposal of the states an era of unparallelled development could be ushered in them.

Shiromani Akali Dal was committed for safeguarding the interests of Punjabi farmers in Gujarat, he said.

The chief minister said that he would be meet BJP chief Rajnath Singh over the issue, while a party delegation headed by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal would take up the matter with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Akali Dal would also seek legal opinion to pursue the case in Supreme Court, he added.