'Chalo Delhi' cry from Karnataka Congress bigwigs resonated in the capital on February 7 as the opposition stepped up the heat on the BJP-led central government over "injustice" in tax devolution and aids to the state.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah led the protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi over issues ranging from reduced tax devolution to unproportionate resource distribution.
“Jantar Mantar is a historical place. All our ministers and MLAs are protesting at this historical place. It is not a political movement. A movement is being made to protect the interest of Karnataka," he said.
"The central government is unfair in tax distribution... Rs 1.87 lakh crore that should have come to Karnataka in five or six years has not come in yet. In the 14th Finance Commission, our tax share was 4.71 percent. It has come down to 3.6 percent in the 15th year. This resulted in a shortfall of 24 percent, amounting to a loss of Rs 62,92,000 crore.”
The whole place teemed with placards reading, 'Where is our money, Mr Prime Minister?' and 'Justice for Karnataka'.
Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge told Moneycontrol that the protest was a “dialogue” and there was no hidden political interest in it. “Our demands are multiple. One is fair devolution of taxes. For example, for every Rs 100 that is paid by Kannadiga, only Rs 30 comes back, whereas for every Rs 100 a person pays from Uttar Pradesh, they get back Rs 330. For Madhya Pradesh, it’s Rs 299. We are not against the progress of any other state. If equitable funds are allocated, development will be more uniform. Rs 18,000 crore is supposed to be given by the NDRF, but nothing has been given to the state. They have allocated Rs 1,000 for railway division in Kalaburgai, isn’t that a mockery? We are asking simple questions and the government is beating around the bush."
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar pointed out that Karnataka was India's second biggest state in terms of revenue generation.
While Karnataka raised the cry for fiscal justice, Kerala is set to join the chorus, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arriving in Delhi against alleged “injustice” and “step-motherly treatment” by the central government in the Interim Budget for 2024-25. Calling Karnataka’s call to protest against the Centre a move to highlight the financial disbursement disparity between North and South India, Kerala will also launch its protest a day later at the same venue.
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