Old Pension Scheme: A new update has come regarding the old pension scheme. Under which it is being said that now even the state government will not be able to implement the old pension scheme. Let’s go through this update in detail in the news below…
The government may be in trouble regarding the old pension scheme of the state government. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that Rs 45,000 crore deposited in the new pension scheme will not be given to the states. He said that transfer of NPS funds to OPS is against the rules.
Regarding the schemes of free announcements, the Union Finance Minister has advised the states that they should run such schemes by earning themselves, not with loan money.
The Ashok Gehlot government of Rajasthan, which started making headlines among the employees across the country by introducing the old pension scheme in the state budget announcement, may face a big setback. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has flatly refused to release Rs 45,000 crore deposited with the Center under the old pension scheme.
The Union Finance Minister said during his stay in Jaipur that as per the pension terms and conditions the money of the employees will not be given back. After this statement of the Union Finance Minister, the Rajasthan government will not get Rs 45,000 crore deposited in the central trust for new pension schemes.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has categorically refused to give NPS money to the state governments. Nirmala Sitharaman said that if a state decides for some reason that the NPS fund should be collected, then it will not be available. It is the employee’s money and the employee is earning interest on the deposited money.
That money will come in the hands of the employee at the time of retirement. The collected money will not come into the hands of the state government. this is impossible. This money will be given to the employee only when the right time comes. The Union Finance Minister has said this while replying to the question of implementation of the old pension scheme by the state governments to the employees.
Union Economic Affairs Secretary Vivek Joshi said that OPS is an unfunded scheme. The government is postponing the burden of its liabilities. This is the process of avoiding the burden on other governments. The burden of pension of the employees who are working today will fall on the next generation. This load is being shifted for the future.
Union Finance Secretary TV Somnath said that after implementing OPS, the states are demanding refund of NPS funds. That money cannot be given back to the state governments. The state governments will not get that money back. NPS money is an agreement between the employee and the trust.
‘Don’t run free schemes with state loan money’-
On the schemes of government offers like free electricity, free water in the states, Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government should run such schemes only when the financial situation is correct. Make provision for free schemes in the budget only when the governments have their own money. The Finance Minister has clearly said that if the financial condition of the state is not good, then there should be no provision for free schemes in the budget as well.
By issuing offers of free schemes, loans are being taken by the states to fulfill them, which is not right. Sitharaman further said that the states should raise funds from their own resources to bring such schemes. Raise revenue from taxes. For free schemes, the state is putting its burden on someone else, it is wrong.
Restructuring of power sector-
The Finance Minister told that we have been restructuring the power sector for the last 5 years. You made a promise to the public and formed the government with those promises. Power companies were overwhelmed by debt. Power generating companies demanded dues from discoms, discoms did not have money.
Discom does not have money at the time of demand, those who promised do not give money to Discom. Then who will bear the cost of power generation? If there is a delay of even one hour in electricity, then the Modi government is accused that see, Modiji is not giving electricity to the poor. Who made the promise to the public, why give the money to the one who did not make the promise?
Took a dig at the Congress
On the question of stopping the work of Barmer Petro Chemicals Hub on political grounds, Seemarman said, Congress leaders having stone heart have no right to curse others. It is baseless for the people of Gujarat to accuse the Congress of stopping the Narmada water on the Modi government. Questioning the Congress, the Union Finance Minister has asked whether the stopping of Gujarat’s water was not political?
Politicizing everything is written in the horoscope of the Congress. The Union Finance Minister, while answering the questions of the Congress about the frequent raids by the ED, Income Tax, said that the Congress is also looking at the government work being done by the investigative agencies through a political lens.
Since independence, corruption has taken place on a large scale in the country. Questioning the Congress after taking action against the corrupt is raising questions on the Congress itself.
Taking a jibe at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the Union Finance Minister has said that the CM only read last year’s budget in the Assembly. The dictionary of the Congress CM is the same and he politicizes everything. He said that although I respect the CM.
Even on the budget day of Rajasthan, I said that mistakes happen, the CM read the last year’s budget. May God bless that such a mistake should not be made by any finance minister.
The PM had also said that he forgot to keep the last year’s budget in the box, no work was done on it. Opened the same box and read the budget. No finance minister should be like this. Sitharaman targeted the UPA government while referring to ERCP.
The UPA government put obstacles so that the water of Narmada did not reach Gujarat. Our government does not do this. The central government is working by connecting the project of Eastern Canal and Chambal Parvat and the PM also mentioned about it in Dausa last days.
Tax on petrol-diesel-
Sitharaman said that many state governments have not reduced the duty on diesel petrol even once. The same states are standing up and asking the central government that the money on gas has not been reduced. After winning the elections in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress government has increased the tax on petrol and diesel. Now they should think while sitting in Chhattisgarh, but with what mouth they are asking us questions.
On the question of bringing petrol and diesel under the ambit of GST, Nirmala Sitharaman said, it is decided by the GST Council and the council will decide. Not only the central government alone, all the states are in the GST Council. If Congress governments want it to be included in GST, then tell that rate, discuss in GST Council. GST Council will decide.
