Siddaramaiah challenges Amit Shah to debate, says unfair funds devolution, not guarantees are draining Karnataka’s coffers
union Home Minister Amit Shah to a debate on the state’s guarantee schemes, saying that if the latter was so sure the schemes were the culprit behind Karnataka’s drained coffers, he should clearly state it. Shah is in Mysuru to participate in the Suttur Jatra Mahotsav, a six-day annual celebration with cultural and folk events.
BJP leaders, the CM added, should also discontinue guarantee schemes in the saffron-party ruled states, if they objected to them. “The honorable Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, who opposed our guarantee schemes, has now stolen not only our guarantee schemes but also the name 'guarantee' and is advertising under the same name. This shows the anti-poor stance and intellectual bankruptcy of that party,” he said.
Slamming the BJP for being “anti-Kannadiga,” Siddaramaiah said the treasury was emptying because of the “unfair distribution of taxes from the Centre to the state.” The Congress party has been attacking the BJP over the topic of funds devolution in a big way in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, with the Karnataka cabinet holding a protest in Delhi last week.
The Home Minister, said Siddaramaiah, has shown disdain for Kannadigas with alleged opposition to the Kannada flag, attempts at Hindi imposition, and the “conspiracy” to favor Amul over Nandini. He accused Shah of being the reason Karnataka was not getting drought relief funds, saying that the Home Minister has to chair a high-level committee meeting to decide on disaster relief. “Amit Shah, who is antagonistic towards Kannadigas,
