According to MoS Bhagwat Karad, Ajit Pawar was not present at the State Finance Minister's pre-budget meeting

Dr. Bhagwat Karad, Minister of State (MoS) for Finance, revealed that Maharashtra Finance Minister Ajit Rao Pawar, who is also the state's deputy Chief Minister, was not present at a pre-budget meeting convened by Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman to learn about state governments' budget expectations.

 

"We issued invitations to everyone, and everyone showed up, except Maharashtra's Finance Minister. This was an important meeting because the Union Finance Minister wanted to hear all of the state governments' budget expectations; it's a platform where all state governments can participate and tell the Union Finance Ministry about their financial needs, but Maharashtra's Finance Minister, Ajit Rao Pawar, did not show up despite repeated calls "Dr. Bhagwat Karad, the Minister of State, revealed.

 

Despite having a Union Minister of state for finance from Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar remarked that his state received nothing in the Union budget-22, sparking a heated dispute. This was a blatant jab at Maharashtra-born Minister of State for Finance Karad.

Dr. Karad emphasised the pre-budget meetings with State and Union Territory Finance Ministers (including legislature) for the Union Budget 2022-23, which were convened by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on December 30. 

 

"What was the point of sending an IAS official who had no notion what the state's budgetary expectations were? "Karad added.

Karad also mentioned another meeting, to which Ajit Pawar was invited as Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, which was called by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman via virtual conference on November 15 to improve the country's investment climate in the wake of a strong recovery and the opportunities afforded by a shift in geopolitical realities following the pandemic.

 

 

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