'Resubmit' Delhi Budget: Home ministry says Kejriwal govt's reply 'awaited for last four days'

The Union Home Ministry today asked the Delhi's Kejriwal government to resubmit the Budget after the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi raised some concerns. The home ministry said reply from Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi is awaited for last four days and it "should submit reply immediately." Earlier in the day, Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot alleged that the ministry Union Ministry of Home Affairs has halted Delhi's annual budget which was scheduled to be presented in Assembly on Tuesday.

"The Lieutenant Governor, Delhi, had raised certain concerns of administrative nature on the proposed Budget, keeping in view the fiscal interest of the National Capital Territory on which MHA vide its letter dated 17.03.2023 has requested GNCTD (Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi) to resubmit the Budget addressing these concerns for taking further action. The reply from GNCTD is awaited for last four days. For the benefit of the people of Delhi, the GNCTD should submit reply immediately," the home ministry said in a statement.

In a tweet Delhi's finance minister said: "We have responded to MHA’s concerns and submitted the file back to Delhil’s LG, after CM’s approval, at 9pm today. It’s very clear that the concerns raised by MHA are irrelevant and seemingly done only to scuttle Delhi govt's budget for next year. Sad day for Indian democracy."


"For the first time in India’s history, the MHA has stopped the Delhi government from presenting its annual budget tomorrow. The budget was sent for MHA’s approval well in advance on 10th March. However, the file with MHA's concerns was put up to me only at 6pm today," Kailash Gahlot claimed.

Delhi's finance ministry today presented the outcome budget 2022-23 tabled in the assembly. The outcome budget 2022-23 mapped the achievements of the projects of the Delhi government across sectors up to December 31, 2022. The outcome budget 2022-23 is the sixth outcome budget presented by the AAP government.