Chandigarh, May 24 -- Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday criticised the BJP-led Centre over the Rs.2.87 lakh crore of dividend announced by RBI, alleging that the Narendra Modi government was increasingly treating the RBI like a "personal treasury" to manage its fiscal deficit while denying states their rightful share despite India's federal structure.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday announced a record dividend of Rs.2.87 lakh crore to the government for FY 2026, providing a financial boost for the exchequer amid rising import bills and supply chain disruptions due to the West Asia conflict.

Citing official figures, Cheema said the Centre had taken nearly Rs.14.29 lakh crore from the RBI since 2014, with m...