CENTREGOVERNMENT

Terming the two options proposed by the Union government as“unconstitutional,” “illegal” and “a betrayal of the spirit ofcooperative federalism,” key opposition-ruled states pressed theCentre to borrow in order to compensate states for the entire goodsand services tax (GST) shortfall ‘regardless of Act of God’.While six states – Kerala, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Punjaband West Bengal – huddled over a video-conference meeting onMonday to thrash out a strategy to take on the Union government,some states separately shot off letters to the Centre, expressingdisapproval of putting the onus of borrowings on states.The finance ministry on Saturday officially communicated the finerdetails of the two…