Shah chides CM over poor allocation to K'taka under 13th Finance Commission

BJP president Amit Shah asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to question the Congress-lead UPA government, why the funds released under the 13th Finance Commission to Karnataka was measly.

Commenting on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's claim that the allocation of Rs 2.19 lakh crore for Karnataka by the 14th Finance Commission is only the right of the state and it was not any favour by the BJP-led Centre, Shah said, even the BJP does not consider it to be a favour.

"The funds are Karnataka's right. But, why was the right of Karnataka denied till the BJP came to power? Why was the allocation in the 13th Finance Commission only Rs 88,583 crore? The Congress-led UPA had actually denied the rights of Karnataka over the funds. The BJP has ensured that Karnataka gets its right share," he said.

'Damaging federal system'

Responding to the interpretation of a few leaders, including Siddaramaiah, that the southern states are funding the development of the northern states, through
the Finance Commission, Shah said, it seems to be a ploy of a few leaders to damage the federal system in the nation.

Shah said, "Besides, the allocation of funds to various states was done by the 14th Finance Commission, which was formed by the Congress-led UPA government. The BJP only ensured that the states get their rightful share in a transparent way. A better allocation will be planned in the next commission, for uniform development of the nation."

"From the available revenues, the Centre has to take care of various expenses, including that of defence forces and foreign relations. Besides, from states which have surplus revenue, funds should be diverted for the overall development of the nation. It is misrepresentation by a few persons that surplus funds from only southern states have been diverted to backward states. Revenues from even Maharashtra and Gujarat are used for the overall development of the nation," he added.

"Siddaramaiah has no moral grounds to talk about the support extended by the Centre. He has been renaming the schemes of the Centre and is claiming them to be his contribution to the state. They include rice and gas supplied by the Centre at subsidised rates. In addition to the funds allocated under the Finance Commission, the Centre has sanctioned many more projects for roads, railways, smart city, etc, total worth over Rs 79,000 crore, this fiscal. But, the benefits are yet to reach the people," he said.

"Siddaramaiah has been demanding the Centre to waive farm loans in nationalised banks. But, when you see the waiver of loans in the BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, the state governments themselves have waived the farms loans in nationalised banks. The achievement of Siddaramaiah government, so far, is pushing the farmers to the brink," Shah said.

MSP to farmers

"In this budget, the Centre has announced a minimum support price (MSP), which will be 150% of the costs involved in cultivation of a crop. This will go a long way in averting the farmers from taking the extreme step," he said.