CM Rekha slams previous govt over CAG findings

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched a scathing attack on the previous government during a discussion on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report in the Delhi Legislative Assembly on Thursday, accusing it of fiscal mismanagement, neglecting development and misusing public funds under the pretext of welfare schemes.

“The public hoped their tax money would be used to build roads, schools and hospitals. Instead, their hard-earned income was diverted to so-called free schemes that were marketed as personal giveaways,” Gupta said, alleging the former administration misled citizens by presenting government-funded schemes as private charity.

Referring to the CAG report on financial and appropriation accounts for 2023-24, she said the findings exposed the previous regime’s misplaced priorities and lack of intent to govern effectively. Gupta also claimed the opposition was preparing to blame the Centre for inadequate funding once the report was made public.

Countering that narrative, she noted the Central Government had provided a grant of Rs 4,800 crore to Delhi. Of this, Rs 463 crore was allocated to water supply, Rs 482 crore for free bus rides, and Rs 3,250 crore for the free electricity scheme.

Gupta further highlighted that while Delhi had a revenue surplus of Rs 4,566 crore in 2022-23, this was completely spent. The following year, 2023-24, the capital registered a revenue deficit of Rs 3,934 crore, creating a combined fiscal imbalance of Rs 8,600 crore over two years.

Citing the CAG’s observations, the Chief Minister pointed to a nearly 50 per cent drop in public health expenditure and stated 24 hospitals, whose foundations were laid during the previous government’s tenure, remain incomplete.

Other key sectors — including education, sports, road infrastructure and public works — also suffered significant budgetary cuts, ranging from 36 per cent to 42 per cent, she said. “No new flyovers were constructed in the last few years, and cuts in the urban development budget represent a betrayal of public trust,” she added.

Gupta also alleged Rs 842 crore from the Central grant remained unutilised as of March 31 ,2024 and accused the former regime of ignoring Central schemes due to political bias. “An additional Rs 2,400 crore was sanctioned for hospitals and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, but not a rupee was spent. Was this because the scheme carried the word ‘Prime Minister’ in its name?” she asked.

She further claimed funds under schemes such as PM SHRI Schools, PM SVANidhi, PM Vishwakarma Yojana, the National AYUSH Mission, AMRUT and Yamuna cleaning were either not accessed or left unused. “Even utilisation certificates for Rs 3,760 crore in grants were not submitted,” Gupta noted.

She also blamed the previous government for failing to release Delhi’s share in key infrastructure projects, including Metro expansions and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) nitiatives, despite legal obligations to do so.

Calling for greater accountability, the Chief Minister formally demanded that the CAG report be referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for a detailed investigation into financial mismanagement and underutilisation of public funds.