NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday condemned the “separate country” remark of party MP D K Suresh and said, “Anyone who speaks of breaking the country can’t be tolerated, regardless of which party he belongs to. Mallikarjun Kharge will be the first to say that from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, we are one and we will remain one.”
This even as party’s Bangalore Rural MP reiterated his charge that Centre was depriving Karnataka of funds and development and called the state BJP MPs spineless.
Suresh, who is brother of Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, claimed that the Centre was mopping up crores in taxes from the southern states while giving them a negligible share of the same. He then went on to say that there may soon be a demand for separate nationhood if the ‘injustice’ continued.
“The Centre is not giving the proper share of GST and direct taxes to South Indian states. We are facing grave injustice. The money collected from southern states through taxes is going to North Indian states. If this continues, we will be forced to demand a separate country,” the Congress leader had said.
“The Centre is taking over Rs 4 lakh crore from us (from tax mop-ups) and we are only receiving a negligible share of it. We need to come out against this and question this government. If the government doesn’t go in for necessary course correction, all southern states will have to raise the demand for a separate country,” Suresh had added.
‘Congress should take action’
His remarks evoked very strong reactions from the BJP and other parties who want the Congress leader to apologise. The BJP said that the remarks of DK Suresh is an attack on the Constitution of India and an insult to the sovereignty and integrity of the country. Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi demanded an apology from Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over her party leader’s remarks.
“I condemn the statement of the Congress member and demand that the matter be referred to the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha,” Joshi said.
Union minister Piyush Goyal said “The Congress president should clarify if the party is associated with the statement. (He should also state if) the country’s sovereignty and integrity and its Constitution hold any place in the mindset of the Congress. (And that) does the party want to divide the country into north and south?”
‘DK Suresh, Tejaswi Surya in war of words’
Meanhwile, DK Suresh defended his remarks as he engaged in a war of words with BJP MP Tejaswi Surya.
Tejaswi Surya, quoting national poet Kuvempu, posted on his X handle, “Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, in our Nada Geethe, says, ‘Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Tanujaate, Jaya Hey Karnataka Mathe (Victory to Mother Karnataka, The Daughter of Mother India!).”
Accusing the Congress of playing divisive politics, the BJP MP added, “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 added that the tax devolution under Prime Minister Narendra 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,” Surya wrote.
Hitting back at the BJP MP, Suresh said the Centre has deprived Karnataka of funds and development.
Firing back at the BJP MP, Suresh posted on X, “You & the other 25 MPs have become spineless, while unfortunately I cannot join your ranks, I continue to speak against this injustice.”
This even as party’s Bangalore Rural MP reiterated his charge that Centre was depriving Karnataka of funds and development and called the state BJP MPs spineless.
Suresh, who is brother of Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, claimed that the Centre was mopping up crores in taxes from the southern states while giving them a negligible share of the same. He then went on to say that there may soon be a demand for separate nationhood if the ‘injustice’ continued.
“The Centre is not giving the proper share of GST and direct taxes to South Indian states. We are facing grave injustice. The money collected from southern states through taxes is going to North Indian states. If this continues, we will be forced to demand a separate country,” the Congress leader had said.
“The Centre is taking over Rs 4 lakh crore from us (from tax mop-ups) and we are only receiving a negligible share of it. We need to come out against this and question this government. If the government doesn’t go in for necessary course correction, all southern states will have to raise the demand for a separate country,” Suresh had added.
‘Congress should take action’
His remarks evoked very strong reactions from the BJP and other parties who want the Congress leader to apologise. The BJP said that the remarks of DK Suresh is an attack on the Constitution of India and an insult to the sovereignty and integrity of the country. Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi demanded an apology from Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over her party leader’s remarks.
“I condemn the statement of the Congress member and demand that the matter be referred to the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha,” Joshi said.
Union minister Piyush Goyal said “The Congress president should clarify if the party is associated with the statement. (He should also state if) the country’s sovereignty and integrity and its Constitution hold any place in the mindset of the Congress. (And that) does the party want to divide the country into north and south?”
‘DK Suresh, Tejaswi Surya in war of words’
Meanhwile, DK Suresh defended his remarks as he engaged in a war of words with BJP MP Tejaswi Surya.
Tejaswi Surya, quoting national poet Kuvempu, posted on his X handle, “Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, in our Nada Geethe, says, ‘Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Tanujaate, Jaya Hey Karnataka Mathe (Victory to Mother Karnataka, The Daughter of Mother India!).”
Accusing the Congress of playing divisive politics, the BJP MP added, “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 added that the tax devolution under Prime Minister Narendra 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,” Surya wrote.
Hitting back at the BJP MP, Suresh said the Centre has deprived Karnataka of funds and development.
Firing back at the BJP MP, Suresh posted on X, “You & the other 25 MPs have become spineless, while unfortunately I cannot join your ranks, I continue to speak against this injustice.”
He claimed that the state’s share came down to 3.64 per cent in the 15th Finance Commission as compared to 4.71% 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%,” Suresh claimed in his post.
(With inputs from agencies)
