NEW DELHI: Amid the chain of heated arguments between the BJP and Congress over Bengaluru Rural Congress MP D K Suresh’s remark of a ‘separate southern nation’ over the Centre’s release of funds to southern states, the Congress MP maintained his stance, accusing the BJP of unfair treatment towards Karnataka.
Suresh on Thursday stoked a controversy by claiming that the southern states will be forced to raise a demand for a separate country if the Centre ‘continues the trend’ of not releasing funds for them.
“The Centre is not properly giving the right share of GST and direct taxes to south Indian states. The south Indian states are facing injustice. The money collected from southern states is being given to north Indian states. If this continues, we will be forced to demand a separate country”, the Congress leader said.
“The Centre is getting over Rs 4 lakh crore from us and what we are getting in return is negligible. We have to question this. If this is not rectified, all southern states have to raise their voices demanding a separate nation”, Suresh added.
Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, in our Nada Geethe, says, "Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Tanujaate, Jaya Hey Karnataka Mathe (Victory to you Mother Karnataka, The Daughter of Mother India!).
While the Congress Party has a history of 'Divide and Rule', its MP Sri @DKSureshINC plays the trick again… pic.twitter.com/ou5cPNz5r7
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) February 1, 2024
Miffed by the remarks made by the Congress MP, Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasni Surya, quoting national poet Kuvempu, in a post on X, wrote, “Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, in our Naada Geethe, says, ‘Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Tanujaate, Jaya Hey Karnataka Mathe (Victory to Mother Karnataka, The Daughter of Mother India!).
Tejasvi Surya further accused the Congress of playing divisive politics. “While the Congress party has a history of ‘Divide and Rule’, its MP Sri @DKSureshINC plays the trick again now, wanting the North and South to be divided”, he said in a post on X.
He further claimed that the tax devolution under PM Modi has been far more than when the UPA government was in power. “The tax devolution to Karnataka during UPA-2 from 2009-14 stood at Rs 53,396 crore, whereas tax devolution during 2014-19 under Sri @NarendraModi Ji Govt crossed 1.35 lakh crore”, he wrote.
In a sharp retort to Tejasvi Surya, Congress MP D K Suresh said that the Central government has deprived Karnataka of its funds and development. In a post on X, Suresh wrote, “You & the other 25 MPs have become spineless, while unfortunately I cannot join your ranks, I continue to speak against this injustice”, he said.
He further claimed that the states share came down to 3.64 pc in the 15th Finance Commission as compared to 4.71 pc in the 14th Finance Commission.
“While Karnataka stands 2nd in Highest GST Collection, it is one of the last few states to receive grants. Karnataka was among the states that lost heavily under the 15th Finance Commission. The 14th Finance Commission gave #Karnataka a share of 4.71% in the divisible pool of taxes. The state’s share came down to 3.64%”, D K Suresh said in a post on X. (ANI)