Siddaramaiah, Pinarayi in Delhi for anti-Centre protest

Escalation its attack on the BJP-led central government, the ruling Congress in Karnataka led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is all set to stage a protest “Chalo Delhi” in the national capital on Wednesday, alleging ‘injustice’ to the state in tax devolution and grants-in-aid over the past few years.

The protest by all Congress legislators and MPs from the state, including Ministers will begin at 11 am on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah along with his deputy DK Shivakumar arrived at the Delhi airport earlier in the morning to participate in the protest.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also landed in Delhi against the alleged “injustice” and “stepmotherly 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.

“Rallying against the Central Government’s economic disparities, we call for unity in ‘Chalo Delhi’ tomorrow at 11 AM, Jantar Mantar. We stand against the unfair treatment in tax devolution and grants for Kannadigas. This movement is for Karnataka’s rights, not against any individual. Join us in this crucial protest, transcending party lines, for our collective future,” Siddaramaiah wrote on a social media post on X.

Accusing the Centre of injustice to Karnataka in Tax devolution, State Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the planned protest is not against the Bharatiya Janata Party and that all MLAs should forget party lines and participate.

“The entire government will protest, all MLAs should forget party lines and participate. We all have to fight together for the good of the state. We are in a union system. We have been cooperating with the central government, but we continue to be treated unfairly by the Centre. We didn’t get proper relief even during COVID, we didn’t get grants even during heavy rains. Rs 5300 crore was not given for the Bhadra Meldande project. This is not a protest against BJP. Instead, it is a protest against the discriminatory attitude in financial distribution and drought relief,” Shivakumar added.

Responding on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s call for protest in Delhi, former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, “Siddaramaiah is doing a political stunt. To cover up his financial mismanagement and failures, he is bringing a bogey between the centre and the state.”

“When we compare UPA’s and PM Modi’s ten years, there is an enormous increase in the funds. From 2004-14 UPA, the devolution of funds was Rs 81,795 crores. Between 2014-24, it is Rs 2,82,791 crores. Aid granted between 2004-14 was Rs 60,779 crores and between 2014-24, it was Rs 2,08,082 crores,” he said, adding, “Siddaramaiah is hiding this reality to cover up his mistakes. He wants to go to Delhi and oppose the government policy. He wants to make it North against South, Centre against state.”