Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman came down heavily on allegations that the Centre is withholding funds meant for non-BJP governed states, saying it is a “politically-vitiated narrative” that “vested interests” are happy to go about saying.

Replying to a question by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Sitharaman said such a situation cannot happen as the “system is well placed” and the central government works according to recommendations of the Finance Commission.