Karnataka 'Chalo Delhi' Protest Highlights: Not serving Kannadigas, instead, BJP, JDS 'slaves of Delhi High Command', says CM

We expect the Govt will listen to our protest and our main intention is to protect the interest of the state and Kannadigas: Siddaramaiah

'We are here to protect interests of Kannadigas,' says Priyank Kharge on 'Chalo Delhi' protest

"...We are here to protect interests of Kannadigas on the devolution of taxes, the drought releif amount which has not been provided...," Kharge said.

"There are four-five demands. Devolution of taxes, we are not getting the drought releif amount...The centre should understand that Karnataka is an economic powerhouse...," he added. (ANI)

CM Siddaramaiah along with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar at Delhi's Jantar Mantar to participate in the protest against the central government

MyTaxMyRight: DK Shivakumar addresses protestors at Gandhi statue, Parliament

"I ask BJP, who have won 25 MP seats, whey they never worked for the state. You don't have courage to speak to PM Modi to seek fund for the state" DK Shivakumar said.

"Even during the double-engine government, when Basavaraj Bommai was CM Karnataka, FM Nirmala Sitharaman had promised more funds, but it never materialised," Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said.

"We are here fighting for the state, as Karnataka is suffering drought. We have requested the central government for special grant as drought relief. But, not one rupee has been released to Karnataka" Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said.

"I request all karyakartas to maintain peace and ensure this protest is successful," he added.

"I expected them (JDS and BJP) to participate because of discrimination meted out to Southern states, particularly Karnataka at the hands of Union government" CM Siddaramaiah says

The purpose of protest is to highlight Union govt's step-motherly treatment of Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah

"This protest is unprecedent in the history. This is not just party-related protest, I had even invited BJP MPs, to raise the issue of discrimination by government of India against not just K'taka state but also other other southern state," says CM Siddaramaiah

CM Siddaramaiah

Here are some pictures from protest

As a matter of fact, k'taka has contributed more than Rs 4,30,000 crore as tax to Union govt: Siddaramaiah

"Due to uncontrolled population in the north, the taxes are now distributed more to the northern states with higher population, but Karnataka and other southern states which managed to control population are now bearing the brunt,"says Siddaramaiah

Every five years, central government and state govt host financial commission meeting to responsibly distribute taxes to run the administration efficiently. But, in 15th financial commission, the central government has reduced the tax share to the state....Despite, the southern states contributing more taxes, they are receiving very low return. UP gets more than 2 lakh crore, but Karnataka, which is second biggest contributor (4.30 lakh crore tax to central govt) is getting less than 44,000 crore. This means, if we contribute Rs 100 tax, we are getting back just Rs 12-13 back. Is this not injustice.

Karnataka has lost Rs 62,098 crore because of devaluation: Siddaramaiah

"In 2017-18, Union govt's budget was around 21.46 lakh crore and Karnataka received Rs 47,900 crore. Last budget 2023-24, though the Union budget increased to over 41 lakh crore, K'taka received merely Rs 50,270 crore" says Siddaramaia

'Comparatively, despite big increase in central budget, the distribution of tax to Karnataka continues to be very low. Is this not injustice?' he added.

"Despite increasing our contribution to India's economy, we are not receiving right compensation. We have lost more than Rs 59,000 crore to other non deserving states. It's like Union government is trying to kill a golden egg-laying hen" says Siddaramaiah

I urge former CM BS Yediurappa to go meet FM Nirmala Sitharaman and PM Modi and get us back the lost Rs 59,000 crore plus tax: Siddaramaiah

"They have promised Rs 3,000 crore for Peripheral road project and Rs 3,000 crore for water bodies development, but haven't released the fund. I urge B S Yeddiyurappa, please get it for the state," he added

I don't know why FM Nirmala Sitharaman, who represents K'taka in Rajya Sabha is refusing to give us our rightful share of tax: Siddaramaiah

In the 14th Finance Commission, we had Govind Rao representing Karnataka, but the current 15th Finance Commission has no representation from the state: Siddaramaiah

PM Modi, who constitutes the finance commission, has intentionally left out our representitive and this is why, we have been suffering the injustice: Siddaramaiah

Over the last several years, we have lost more than 1.87 lakh crore worth of tax to the the state. We have the responsibility for welfare of the state... around 190 taluks of the state are facing severe droughts, 223 have declared drought. How do we manage the fiscal with limited resource? asks Siddaramaiah

"The central govt team came and went, but till today, we haven't received any special package to help Karnataka farmers affected by the drought. Me and revenue minister Krishna Byregowda met PM Modi and Amit Shah in December, but till today there is no proper communication....we have not received a single rupee from NDRF," he added

"Despite this limitation, we have released drought relief money to over 31 lakh farmers. We can give more once we get the fund from NDRF" says Siddaramaiah

"We released Rs 870 crore relief amount to taluk officers to be distributed to the affected farmers. We ask former CMs B S Yeddiyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai and those 25 BJP Karnataka MPs to get us fund from NDRF. Why else have the people elected you? But they don't have courage to ask for the funds from PM Modi", Siddaramaiah added.

"In 2023-24 budget speech, FM had announced Rs 5,300 crore for Upper Bhadra project. Moreover, Bommai too announced that the Upper Bhadra project will be announced as national project. But, the Union government never released any amount, not even one rupee," CM Siddaramaiah said.

"Dy CM DK Shivakumar, who is water resource minister, had met FM and Union water resources minister, but they didn't release not even one rupee. Should we just be silent and suffer?" asks Siddaramaiah

The Union govt has not cleared the Mahadayi project yet. The environment ministry is not responding properly to the state govt: CM Siddaramaiah said.

We are also asking Union govt to approve Mekedattu balancing reservoir project for water storage to not just Bengaluru citizens, but also TN cities. But, PM Modi is committed to not giving clearance from environment ministry: Siddaramaiah says

"In Raichur, Union Govt had promised to set up AIIMS. I even wrote two letters to get progress report on the project. But, they haven't responded till date" : CM Siddaramaiah

"To highlight all the discrimination meted out to us at the hands of Union government, we have assembled here. We are protesting for the welfare of citizens of Karnataka," he added.

'UP gets more than 2 lakh crore, but Karnataka, which is second biggest contributor (4.30 lakh crore tax to Union govt) is getting less than 44,000 crore. This means, if we contribute Rs 100 tax, we are getting back just Rs 12-13. Is this not injustice?' asks Siddramaiah.

Sweat of our people, tax — our right!!

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