K'taka takes fight to Delhi against Centre, to protest at Jantar Mantar today

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Alleging stepmotherly treatment in the disbursement of funds to opposition ruled states like Karnataka, the ruling Congress in the state led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and a bevy of other leaders, ministers, MLAs, MLCs and MPs will stage a protest in New Delhi on Wednesday, alleging "injustice" to the state in tax devolution and grants-inaid.

The protest comes ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha polls and will begin at 11 am at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

The protesters would demand Centre set right the losses allegedly incurred by the Karnataka to the tune of Rs 1.87 lakh crore, during five years under the 15th finance commission.

A few days ago, Congress MP DK Suresh had while lamenting the finnacial injustice to Karnataka, said that the south may not be averse to even demanding a separate nation if this state of affairs continues.

Siddaramaiah had said the protest was aimed at attracting the attention of the central government and the people of the country towards the state's concerns. So far the state had never staged a protest in Delhi, but due to "unavoidable reasons", a situation has come now, for it to do so.

Siddaramaiah also urged the opposition BJP and its lawmakers, especially MPs from the state to join the agitation in the interest of Karnataka.

He has written to to all MPs from Karnataka including those from the BJP requesting them to join the protest.

Central ministers from the State including Nirmala Sitharaman (Rajya Sabha member) and Pralhad Joshi have also been invited.

The BJP however accused the state government of misusing public money to issue front page advertisements in various newspapers asking people to take part in 'Chalo Delhi' march against the Central government.

The advertisement read: “To protest against the financial atrocities committed by the Central government on Kannadigas and Karnataka – Chalo Delhi”. In its memorandum to Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, the BJP alleged that the advertisement "incites the people of Karnataka with misleading and false information regarding devolution of funds from the Centre".

Elsewhere, in Kolkata TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will stage a protest on Friday against the Centre for allegedly withholding her state's dues, particularly under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).