A day after his brother, and Bengaluru rural MP, D K Suresh said the states of south India may have to consider a demand for separate country if things continue like this, deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar on Friday held a press briefing citing the injustice to Karnataka.
“Since 2018-19, Karnataka has incurred a loss of at least Rs 50,000 crore in the form of central grants and devolution of funds vis-a-vis our contributions to the nation’s economy. We are receiving only Rs 12 to Rs 13 for every Rs 100 that is going to the centre’s kitty. This is a scary proposition and we need to raise our voice against this injustice,” said Shivakumar.
The DCM added that despite Karnataka raising the alarm bells over drought in the state in 2023, till date the centre has not released a single rupee towards drought relief.
“I am not bothered about what the centre gives Gujarat or Maharashtra. Let the union government give us back the money which Karnataka is owed,” said the DCM.
He said the Karnataka government, led by chief minister Siddaramaiah, will be participating in the protest in New Delhi and have already sought permission from the Delhi police for a place to protest.
“We need to raise our voices to ensure that it reaches the people in the corridors of power of Delhi. We have already sought permission to protest in New Delhi, which is an integral part of our democracy,” said DCM.
Shivakumar said all the 138 MLAs and 29 MLCs will be going to Delhi on February 6 evening.
“This has been communicated to our district in-charge ministers, to mobilise our MLAs and ensure they reach Delhi. We intend to protest between 10.30 am to 11 am,” he said.
When questioned about the timing of the protest, with the 15th finance commission tenure coming to an end and demand for increased devolution to Karnataka may not find any voice, Shivakumar said the intent of the protest was to ensure that Delhi takes note of the injustice and that it has the mandate to do so.
| Cadre appointment to boards and corps will happen soon: D K Shivakumar
BENGALURU: Deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said the appointment of party cadres to the posts of boards and corporation chairman will be done shortly. “We have identified the names and prepared a list. Unfortunately, me and the CM have been busy with the state budget and could not dwell much into it. It has been delayed but we will announce the names shortly. The department ministers have been already told about the appointments and given directions,” he said. |
| HDK is spokesperson of BJP: D K Shivakumar
Hitting back at former JD(S) chief minister and son of former PM H D Deve Gowda, H D Kumaraswamy, who had claimed that if people elect those who break boulders for a living to the Parliament they will only speak of breaking the country, deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar said the former had become the spokesperson of the BJP. “Having betrayed his ideology and wearing the saffron shawl in Mandya, Kumaraswamy has proved that he is the spokesperson of the BJP. I do not know how the former PM could digest this, considering we have known his ideological commitment in the past. Perhaps, for the sake of his son…” chided Shivakumar. |
