The Opposition-ruled states of Karnataka and Kerala brought their protest against the Centre’s alleged biased fiscal policies to the national capital, with Tamil Nadu lending its voice of support.
The Karnataka Congress establishment led by CM Siddaramaiah held a protest at Jantar Mantar accusing the Modi regime of denying the state its rightful share in central funds and demanding that Karnataka be given justice by a return to old formula of devolution of funds.
Siddaramaiah accused finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman of denying funds to the state and “for lying” that she could not interfere in the decision-making of an autonomous body like the Finance Commission. He added that the FM, ironically, belongs to the state.
Arguing that population control and progress have become a handicap for Karnataka and the southern states, Siddaramaiah told the protesters which included his deputy D K Shivakumar, cabinet colleagues, MLAs, MLCs and MPs “We are not against giving more funds to northern states. But don’t kill the hen that lays the golden eggs.” He sought corrective steps to recover losses amounting to £18 billion incurred by Karnataka under the 15th Finance Commission, and sought a return to the formula for devolution of the 14th FC.
Despite the CM extending individual invitations to MPs from the opposition BJP and the JD(S), none from the rival camp participated in the protest. Siddaramaiah said the protest was not against BJP, but “to protect the interests of Karnataka”. He dismissed BJP’s allegations that the demonstration was held “to exacerbate” the north-south divide and stressed Congress’s commitment to national unity, while urging the Centre to avoid discrimination towards southern states.
Kejriwal, Mann and Farooq join Kerala protest
A clutch of INDIA bloc leaders rallied around Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan as he led protests against the “crippling of democracy” and attack on India’s federal structure by the Modi govt.
Vijayan’s protest, which came on the heels of a similar protest by Karnataka earlier, saw Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann extend their support. Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin was represented by DMK leaders Tiruchi Siva and Palanivel Thiagarajan, aside from National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, CPM chief Sitaram Yechury and CPI general secretary D Raja, among others.