A controversy sparked when Congress’s Lok Sabha MP DK Suresh claimed that South India, especially Karnataka, isn’t getting enough funds from the Central government. In response to the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Suresh said that the South is being treated unfairly, with funds intended for the region getting redirected to the North.
Suresh went as far as suggesting the need for a “separate country” for South India due to the alleged injustice imposed by the Hindi-speaking regions. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya criticized Suresh, accusing the Congress of a ‘Divide and Rule’ strategy. He pointed out that tax devolution to Karnataka has increased under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Interim Budget, Congress MP from Bengaluru DK Suresh says, “This is the election budget. In the interim budget, only names have been changed. They have introduced some Sanskrit names and Hindi names of schemes. The Centre is not properly giving the right share of GST and… pic.twitter.com/a19Rhq8Mqn
— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2024
Surya emphasized the contrast between Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to ‘unite’ the country and Suresh’s divisive stance. He expressed confidence that the people of Karnataka won’t allow such division and promised a strong response in the Lok Sabha elections for a “#CongressMuktBharat.”
R Ashoka, another BJP leader from Karnataka, criticized Suresh for talking about dividing India while Rahul Gandhi is promoting unity with his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra.’ He highlighted the divisive mindset of the Congress party and stressed the importance of protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the country.
In response, Karnataka Congress chief and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar defended Suresh, calling his statement an expression of people’s opinions due to feeling neglected. He reiterated his commitment to the unity of India, emphasizing that every village should receive justice from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
#WATCH | Bengaluru: On Congress MP DK Suresh’s statement, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Sivakumar says, “DK Suresh or any other leader have spoken of the pain of South India… There has to be a balance. The entire country is one… You cannot only look at the Hindi belt… In this… https://t.co/p7tv8NZhLz pic.twitter.com/TPm0TqiXSE
— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2024
Also Read: Sitharaman Unveils 2024 Interim Budget: Checkout Highlights and Future Vision
