AAP Govt demands Rs 927 cr from Centre for preparations of G20 events in Delhi

Delhi's deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday wrote to the Union Finance Minister seeking Rs 927 crore for the preparation of G20.

"Hosting the G20 Summit is a matter of pride for Delhi. The Delhi government needs Rs 927 crore for special preparations for G20. The Delhi government does not get funds in the Union Budget, so the central government should give additional funds for the preparation of G20," said Sisodia in his letter.

Stating that it is a matter of great pride for India to host the G20 summit, Sisodia said in the letter, "It is a matter of even more pride...that most of the important events of the G20 summit will take place in Delhi. The Delhi government will provide full assistance to the Government of India in order to make the planning of the G20 summit a success. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi Government shall strive to ensure that the foreign guests who arrive here during the G20 summit do not face any trouble, and furthermore, they return home with unforgettable memories of Delhi as a 21st-century capital of India."

"In this regard, the various departments of the Delhi Government have formulated an outline for events related to infrastructure development...there are proposals for the beautification of spots where G20 events are set to take place, as well as proposals for the staging of specific events and functions," said the Delhi deputy Chief Minister emphasizing that the state government requires Rs 927 crore to take special



preparations for the G20 Summit.

In the letter, Sisodia also took a jibe at the Union Finance ministry for allocating a paltry sum of the Union Budget to the national capital of India. "You would be aware that the Delhi Government has not received any financial support from the Central government as its share from the central taxes. The Delhi Government also does not receive any extra grants from the Central Government. In fact, the MCD does not receive the funds that other municipalities across the country receive on account of the population in their jurisdiction," he said.

"It is clear that the Delhi Government would find it difficult to spend an additional Rs. 927 crores for the organisation of G20 events out of the regular financial resources. Therefore, in light of the importance of the G20 summit and the events taking place in Delhi, I request you to provide us with the requisite Rs. 927 crores...This would be of great assistance in making sure that the various events and functions of the Delhi Government that have been planned can take place seamlessly, and the preparations can be completed on time," said Sisodia in the letter.

After Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Union Budget on February 1, Sisodia took a dig at the ministry for allocating Rs 325 crore for the national capital under the subhead of grant in lieu of taxes even though Delhi pays over Rs 1.75 lakh crore as income tax. The amount of Rs 325 crore has remained unchanged for the last 22 years, Sisodia had claimed.