Bengaluru, Feb 05: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar today said the Congress party will not be a silent spectator for the injustice being meted out to Karnataka by the BJP government at the Centre.
Addressing the media, along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, at Vidhana Soudha, he said, “The BJP government in the Centre has been constantly meting out a raw deal to Karnataka – be it Covid relief, drought relief, MGNREGA or irrigation projects. Our government can’t take this lying down anymore.”
“We have to fight for justice to the State unitedly. The people of Karnataka have reposed faith and given us an opportunity and we have to repay that debt. We have been cooperating with the Centre as we believe in federalism. We have been watching the injustice caused to the State for the last ten years,” he said.
“The BJP keeps harping on double engine government, but they did nothing for the State when they were in power previously. We waited patiently that Karnataka will get justice in the Union budget at least, but our trust has been betrayed,” he noted.
“Our State is the second biggest contributor in taxes, yet the State doesn’t get its due. Some Northern States which contribute far lesser taxes are given much higher funds than Karnataka. It is our duty to raise this issue with the Centre and create awareness among the people of Karnataka. We intend to do that with the protest on February 7th,” he said.
Calling upon MLAs, MLCs and MPs to participate in the protest cutting across party lines, Mr Shivakumar said, “It is imperative that we open the eyes of Central leaders to this grave injustice. Chief minister has written a letter regarding this to the Prime minister and I have called on Union ministers and have appraised them of this injustice. But nothing has happened. The State hasn’t received any funds for drought relief,” he said.
“The law has provision to increase number of man days in MGNREGA from 100 days to 150 days but the Centre isn’t doing that either. How long can sit and watch this injustice. This protest is for justice, people’s livelihood, economic independence of the people of Karnataka.”
Finance Minister Has the Power to Set it Right
Asked about Union Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman’s statement that she has no role in the State’s finances, he said, “I know Nirmala Sitharaman is smart. She represents Karnataka in Rajyasabha and she is responsible for the State. She had announced Rs 5300 crores for Upper Bhadra project in the previous budget. The Finance Minister has every right to address disparities in Finance commissions. She announced many projects for GIFT city in Gujarat, why can’t she announce a GIFT city for Karnataka? We are all Indians, why this disparity?”
Asked if other states such as Kerala, Telangana will also hold protests in Delhi, he said, “I am not going to comment on other states. It is natural for a baby to cry when it is hungry.
Referring to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s comment that Karnataka government has money to spend on guarantee schemes, he said, “Karnataka government has the capability to manage the guarantees it has announced. Let the Centre give us our due share and we will manage the finances of our State.”
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