Ex-MP Suresh asks Centre to study devolution of taxes before nation 'turns against them'

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Centre should learn about the proper devolution of taxes to the states before the country "turns against them," said Congress leader and former MP D K Suresh here on Saturday. He alleged that the BJP wanted north India to take control of the entire nation through delimitation of the Lok Sabha seats. Suresh, who is the younger brother of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, called upon the leaders of southern states to set aside their political differences and come together to fight against the Centre's injustice.

"The Centre will be in trouble if people of the state and the country turn against them. They should learn to pay our share of Central taxes," Suresh said in a press conference. The former MP said India is not limited to Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh and everyone from Kashmir to Kanyakumari has got equal rights and hence the Centre should see that equal justice is done to everyone.

He also cautioned the union government by saying, "It is not good to undermine Karnataka." Suresh accused the Centre of weakening the federal system of the country. "If you want to build a strong nation, you have to strengthen the states. I have said this several times that instead of strengthening the country, states are being weakened through laws and rules at every stage," he said. The Congress leader alleged that the Centre was hampering the development of the state through unjust tax devolution.