Sun Feb 09 03:40:12 UTC 2025: **Goyal Condemns “Petty” Demands for Proportional Central Funding**
MUMBAI, February 9, 2025 – Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal criticized certain states for demanding central funds proportional to their tax contributions, calling it “petty thinking” and “unfortunate.” Speaking at the ‘Rashtriya Ekatmata Yatra 2025’ in Mumbai on Saturday, Goyal stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi prioritizes the development of eight northeastern states and eastern states like Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand, for national prosperity.
Goyal specifically mentioned past comments from some Maharashtra leaders, seemingly referencing the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led government, who calculated Mumbai and Maharashtra’s tax contributions and demanded a proportional return in central funding. He extended this criticism to other states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana.
The minister highlighted the Modi government’s 11-year focus on the Northeast and eastern states through initiatives like the Act East and Look East policies, including railway connectivity and highway infrastructure development in northeastern capitals. He noted PM Modi’s over 65 visits to the region and urged citizens to experience its beauty and culture. Goyal concluded by stating that the current BJP government in Maharashtra is sensitive to the needs of Northeast India.
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