Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy Criticizes Center Over Federalism and Funding Cuts

Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that central government policies are undermining the <b>federal system</b>. Speaking at the 'Bharat Summit' during a panel discussion on cooperative federalism, he expressed concern that increasing Lok Sabha seats from 542 to 840 through delimitation could lead to excessive centralization, negatively impacting southern states. Reddy questioned the role of Governors in withholding bills passed by elected governments. He further alleged that the center's failure to provide full minimum support prices for crops and delays in releasing funds have forced states to take massive bank loans. Jharkhand Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey also claimed the <b>MMDR Act</b> causes her state an annual loss of ₹10,000 crore.