Centre Vs South: Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Join Kerala Govt's 'Fight To Protect Federalism' At Jantar Mantar

Amid escalating tensions in the Centre versus southern states battle, leaders from the three states — Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu — are in the national capital to protest against alleged injustice in allocation of funds.

After Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government’s “Chalo Delhi” protest in Delhi on Wednesday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also held a protest in Delhi on Thursday against the Centre’s alleged neglect towards the southern state in financial matters.

Sources said it is likely that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann also joined the Kerala government’s protest.

LATEST UPDATES

• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MPs also staged a protest in front of the Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises over the Centre’s financial neglect against Tamil Nadu.
• “The present government in Kerala has been there in power for the last 8 years. They had made tall promises when they fought the elections in 2016-2021 but now they have realised that they have nothing to say about their achievements…,” he said. Hence “they have found a convenient way of putting the blame on the Government of India…”
• Meanwhile, MoS MEA V Muraleedharan slammed the Kerala government for its protests and said that they have found a ‘convenient way’ of blaming the Centre.
• Kejriwal said that the Kerala CM has not come to Delhi for himself, but to “get what is the right of people of Kerala”.
• Speaking at the protest gathering, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal took a dig at the Centre and said that it has come to a point where a state’s CM “had to keep aside all his work” to come down to Delhi for protesting.
• “The revenue neutral rate that was predicted when GST was being rolled out, is yet to be achieved. Yet, GST compensation has been done away with.” Vijayan added.
• Pinarayi Vijayan, in his address, also brought up the GST compensation and said “we all know what has happened” with it. ” It was regularly being delayed and it was when many of us State Governments decided to approach the Honourable Supreme Court together that the Union Government disbursed arrears,” the Kerala CM said.
• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann arrived at Jantar Mantar and joined the protest against Centre’s financial ‘neglect’.
• The revenue sharing is reverse right now, said Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, citing that the states are having to take “tax burden by 65 per cent of the expenses”, wherein the “Union is giving only 35 per cent”.
• Addressing the gathering at Jantar Mantar, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said, “We are here to register our protest against central Govt over tax devolution.” While thanking all the opposition party leaders for their “support”, Vijayan said that the Centre has been “making decision” without “seeking states’ opinion”.
• Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah has also joined Kerala government’s protest at Jantar Mantar.
• Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan along with his party leaders and other supporting legislators begin their protest at Jantar Mantar against the Central government’s alleged ‘neglect’ towards the southern state in financial matters.
• Tamil Nadu ruling-party DMK also took part in the protest. IT Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan is representing DMK in the protest.
• Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has also joined LDF in the protest against the Centre. IUML’s representative, leader Abdul Wahab, is present in the national capital for the agitation.
• LDF convenor EP Jayarajan said, “We are raising the people’s demands… Yesterday it was Karnataka, today it is Kerala, tomorrow other states will also come…”
• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann might join Kerala’s ruling Left front in its protest in the national capital.
• Though Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) invitation to the Congress-led UDF to join the protest was rejected, it has received the support of Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin.
• Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will stage a protest at Jantar Mantar at 11 am on Thursday. Vijayan along with the Left front ministers and legislators will actively partake in the protest against the Centre’s alleged “neglect” towards the southern state.

WHAT IS KERALA GOVT SAYING?

Kerala’s ruling Left front has said that their protest is against the Centre’s alleged neglect towards the southern state in financial matters.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said that the Left Democratic Front had to resort to such an unprecedented struggle as it was essential for his state’s survival and advancement.

“This agitation is intended to safeguard the constitutional rights of all states, not merely Kerala’s. The aim of this struggle is not to triumph over anyone, but to secure what we rightfully deserve instead of surrendering,” the Kerala CM said in Delhi according to a statement issued by his office.

State finance minister KN Balagopal said that Kerala’s borrowing has also been cut. He said that all their “deserving money is going to NDA states”.

“Yesterday BJP leaders said we are not able to run the government. I want to ask them how are we then getting 24 awards from NITI Aayog?” Balagopal said. The finance minister also slammed “immature” Congress for not supporting the protest.

In its budget, the Kerala government attacked the Central government by saying that it was pushing the southern state towards the worst financial crisis in its history.

KARNATAKA GOVT’S ALLEGATIONS

Karanataka chief minister said that this was “not a political protest”. “This is a protest against the stepmotherly treatment by the Centre, even when Karnataka was badly hit by drought.”

Accusing the Centre of injustice to Karnataka in Tax devolution, state deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that the protest is not against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and that all MLAs should forget party lines and participate.

The protestors are also demanding that Centre set right the losses allegedly incurred by their state government to the tune of Rs 1.87 lakh crore, during five years under the 15th finance commission.

‘SEPARATIST MINDSET’, ‘FALSE NARRATIVE’ ON FUNDS ALLOCATION, SAYS NIRMALA SITHARAMAN

Hitting out at the Congress government in Karnataka, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanan accused the it of harbouring a “separatist mindset” and spreading a “false narrative” on the fund allocation issue.

Giving a point-by-point rebuttal to the state government’s allegations, the finance minister — joined by Karnataka MP and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi — accused CM Siddaramaiah and his colleagues of making “outrageously false” allegations and said that no GST compensation amount is due to the state.

“These claims come from a separatist mindset…The Congress is with those who want ‘tukde tukde‘ (break) of the country,” she said claiming that the advertisement promotes such a language.

She further slammed the Opposition party while citing Karnataka MP DK Suresh, who had said that if the Centre’s alleged discrimination continues, then “South India may seek a separate country”.

She also rejected the Karnataka government’s claim over Centre not giving the special grant of Rs 5,495 crore as per 15th Finance Commission’s recommendation.

“I want to clearly state that the recommendation did not form part of the final report of the 15th Finance Commission. The question of not accepting does not arise at all,” she said.

(With PTI inputs)