Payoshi Bisht, Pune
Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar expressed his concern over the recent Budget released by the Central government, claiming it to be unjust and discriminatory against the southern states. He stated that the BJP-led government did not make any notable announcements benefiting the southern states of India and that the government may be prioritising states only in the “Hindi belt.”
Congress Lok Sabha MP DK Suresh, the younger brother of the Deputy CM, sparked a debate on Thursday. He stated there is a need to call for a “separate country” for South India, citing concerns about inadequate funds allocated to Karnataka from the central government.
Shivakumar further reacted to the statement and said that DK Suresh and other leaders have talked about the problems faced by South India. They asserted that each state should be treated equally, and a balance has to be maintained. The current budget lacks an equal distribution of finances, and the Centre should focus on the South as much as they focus on the Hindi-speaking states.
The Union Budget was recently presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Parliament, after which Congress MP DK Suresh expressed his concerns over funds intended for the southern regions being redirected and distributed to the northern parts of the country.
According to DK Suresh, the Southern states need to receive their fair share of GST and direct taxes from the Central government, resulting in an unjust situation. He claims that funds collected from the Southern states are disproportionately allocated to the Northern states.
The BJP tackled these remarks by saying that such allegations are a result of the ‘divide-and-rule policy’ of the Congress party, as a result of which the country is experiencing division.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya remarked, “The Congress Party, known for its historical ‘Divide and Rule’ approach, sees its MP DK Suresh employing the same tactic again, advocating for the division of the North and South.”
Surya provided data to support his claim, asserting that tax devolution to Karnataka has witnessed an increase under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the NDA alliance-led government.