New Delhi: Aam Admi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday criticized the Centre for allocating Rs 200 crore as aid money to the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, alleging that it was done by slashing the Budgetary allocation for Indias education, health sectors, and national capital Delhi.
He also advised the Centre to refrain from interfering while referring to a report on the differences between the government and the Supreme Court over the appointment of the judges to the apex court.
In another tweet, again citing a news report, Kejriwal questioned if it is right to give funds to Taliban by cutting the funds of education, health, and Delhi in the country? People are strongly opposing it.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been allocated a total of Rs 18,050 crore in the Union Budget for 2023-24 which is an increase of around 4.64 percent over last years allocation of Rs 17,250 crore.
The total outlay included Rs 5,408 crore of development aid to various countries and over Rs 990 crore towards Indias G20 Presidency.
In continuation with Indias special relationship with the people of Afghanistan and unwavering commitment, budgetary aid to that country has been retained at Rs 200 crore.
While Bhutan has been given the largest share of the aid portfolio Rs 2,400 crore, the allocation for the Maldives has been raised Rs 400 crore where India projects such as the greater Male connectivity project and high impact community development project.
Nepal will get development aid worth Rs 550 crore, Mauritius to receive Rs 460 crore while the amount for Myanmar has been pegged at Rs 400 crore, according to the Budget document.
