‘Chalo Delhi’: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah decries tax inequality during protest at Jantar Mantar

Karnataka ministers and Congress MLAs initiated a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Wednesday, accusing the Centre of unfair therapy concerning tax devolution and grants-in-aid to the state over current years. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accompanied by Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, led the demonstration towards the Centre.

CM Siddaramaiah’s stand

Addressing the gathering, CM Siddaramaiah emphasised the collective stand of Karnataka’s ministers, MLAs, and MLCs towards what they understand because the Centre’s failure to fulfill Karnataka’s calls for concerning GST and tax devolution.

During the protest towards the central authorities at Jantar Mantar, Siddaramaiah mentioned, “Karnataka is number two as far as tax collection is concerned; Maharashtra is number one. As a matter of fact, this year, Karnataka is contributing more than Rs 4.30 lakh crores as tax…If we collect Rs 100 as tax and give it to the Government of India, we are only getting Rs 12-13 back, that is our share…”

Karnataka Congress’s grievances

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge echoed the sentiment and asserted the protest’s function to safeguard the pursuits of Kannadigas, notably regarding tax devolution and pending drought aid funds.

Karnataka’s financial significance

Highlighting Karnataka’s financial prowess, Home Minister G Parameshwara underscored the state’s significance and reiterated their calls for for GST share and drought aid, expressing disappointment over the Centre’s lack of response.

BJP counters with protests towards Congress-led govt

Simultaneously, as Congress staged a protest at Jantar Mantar towards perceived injustices in direction of Karnataka, BJP leaders organised counter-demonstrations. In Karnataka, protests unfolded close to the Gandhi Statue in Vidhana Soudha, whereas exterior Parliament in Delhi, BJP leaders protested towards the Congress-led authorities in Karnataka, echoing the political tensions surrounding the difficulty.

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