The row between the non-BJP states and the Union government over tax devolution and grants-in-aid heated up today, as top Congress leaders from Karnataka led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah staged an agitation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, while the saffron party staged a counter-protest in Bengaluru against the alleged failures of the Congress government.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, several MPs, ministers and MLAs from the state joined Siddaramaiah in the protest, demanding the Union government set right the Rs 1.87 lakh crore loss, allegedly incurred by Karnataka under the 15th Finance Commission.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka BJP staged a protest in Bengaluru against the alleged failures of the Congress government, in a bid to apparently to counter the Congress's agitation. Party state president B.Y. Vijayendra led the sit-in demonstration in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue near Vidhana Soudha, against the state government's alleged failure to offer incentives to milk producers and relief to drought-hit farmers.
Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojary and several former ministers were among those who took part in the agitation.
Referring t0 the Congress's protest in the national capital, the BJP said the party is 'staging a political drama' to cover up its failures.
Dismissing the BJP's allegations, Siddaramaiah said the formula used to devolve taxes to the states, especially Karnataka, under the 14th Finance Commission was changed by the 15th Finance Commission. He called for reverting to the old formula to stop the loss of revenue for his state. The CM also said that they would also submit a representation to the new Finance Commission for the same.
He also dismissed the BJP's allegation that the protest was aimed at raking up the north-south divide, and said the Congress wants the country to be united but there should be no discrimination against the southern states.
The national capital will see a similar protest tomorrow, as Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, along with his cabinet colleagues, are set to stage an agitation against the Centre's alleged negligence towards the southern state.
(With PTI inputs)