Non-BJP CMs Demand More Central Funds, Water Sharing Reforms at NITI Aayog Meet Led by PM Modi
At the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, several Chief Ministers from non-BJP-ruled states raised concerns over delayed central funds, unresolved water-sharing disputes, and the need for greater financial autonomy. The meeting, themed ‘Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @2047’, marked a major Centre-state dialogue following Operation Sindoor.
Leaders from Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Jharkhand used the platform to highlight grievances around cooperative federalism, central policy conditions, and allocation of resources, while some key states like Karnataka, Kerala, and West Bengal skipped the session.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin criticized the Centre for withholding ₹2,200 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for not signing the ‘PM Shri’ scheme MoU.
“This denial affects education of children in government schools. It is not right to tie central funds to political agreements,” Stalin said, demanding a 50% share in central taxes and a new urban transformation initiative for Tamil Nadu.
He emphasized that forcing states into legal battles to access their due funds undermines cooperative federalism.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, making his first NITI Aayog appearance, pitched the idea of a national urban task force headed by the Prime Minister to unlock the economic potential of India’s top six cities.
“Hyderabad alone contributes nearly 2.5% of the national GDP. We must balance support between high-growth states and those still catching up,” Reddy said, emphasizing equity-driven development.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann raised the long-standing water-sharing conflict with Haryana and criticized the deployment of CISF at Bhakra Nangal dam.
He asserted that Punjab lacks surplus water and called for the Yamuna-Sutlej-Link (YSL) project over the SYL canal to redirect water from surplus basins to deficit regions. He also demanded Punjab’s inclusion in Yamuna water allocation talks.
TDP leader and CM N. Chandrababu Naidu proposed forming three sub-groups for economic and social policy: one each on GDP growth, population management, and Artificial Intelligence.
“These groups will fast-track our journey to a developed India by 2047,” Naidu said. He urged support for public-private partnership (PPP) investments and employment-generating manufacturing.
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu highlighted the financial struggles of hill states, demanding relaxed eligibility norms in central schemes and timely release of pending dues.
“If the Centre clears our dues, Himachal can become self-reliant,” Sukhu asserted.
CM Hemant Soren urged the Centre to amend the Coal Bearing Areas Act to return land to states post-mining and demanded ₹1.4 lakh crore owed by companies in land compensation.
“Jharkhand has rich coal methane potential. Companies should set up captive power units using local resources, which will also create jobs,” he said.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi stressed unity and collaboration across political lines to achieve the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ goal. He described Centre-state cooperation as essential to India’s long-term development.
Notably, Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry did not participate in the high-level meeting.
