Stalin urges Centre to release pending Samagra Shiksha funds, demands 50% share to States in divisible pool of central taxes

At the 10th Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog in New Delhi, Chief Ministers of non BJP-ruled states raised strong concerns over issues ranging from water sharing and financial discrimination to representation in administrative bodies and infrastructure support.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the Centre of discriminatory treatment, while his counterparts from Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand echoed similar grievances, calling for equitable distribution of resources, respect for federal principles, and greater support for state-led development initiatives under the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the Centre of meting out “step-motherly treatment” to Punjab, citing multiple instances of alleged discrimination against the state.