Ministers and MPs remain silent on Karnataka’s injustice: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Wednesday that while they have embraced democracy and a federal system of government, they are unable to accept a presidential type of administration similar to that of the US or China.

In a conversation on the state’s taxes on X, the CM said that since the state’s tax share was lowered from 4.71 percent in the 14th Finance Commission to 3.6 percent in the 15th Finance Commission, the state had been treated unjustly.

The state lost Rs 1,87,000 crore in tax distribution within five years, which was a major setback. For every Rs 100 in taxes we pay, we only get around Rs 12–13, he said.

According to him, the Finance Commission had suggested a special grant of Rs 11,495 crore, of which Rs 6,000 crore would go toward building lakes and the Bangalore Peripheral Ring Road. He said that it was halted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, a Karnataka lawmaker who was elected to the Rajya Sabha.

He remarked that in order to guarantee the prosperity of the nation, the states must also get a share of the cess and surcharge via constitutional amendment.

He stated that Karnataka received just Rs 52,000 crore from the Centre, whereas UP received Rs 2,18,000 crore. He said that the Centre should not treat Karnataka unfairly while providing funds to UP and other underdeveloped states.

MPs from Karnataka, even Union ministers, according to Siddaramaiah, are not challenging the Center over the injustice done to the state. The CM said that they would not give up on fortifying the federal government.