Southern states' protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against alleged "injustice" in tax devolution and grants-in-aid saw chief ministers from northern states, including Punjab and Delhi, joining on Thursday to voice their concerns against the Centre. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal actively participated in Thursday's protest, expressing their strong objections to the Centre's actions. Noted economists from Punjab advised Chief Minister Mann to align with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday, urging a robust protest against the Centre for similar treatment towards Punjab, including withholding its Rs 8,000 crore. Mann highlighted Punjab's significance as the food bowl of India and lamented the Centre's withholding of Rs 8,000 crore, impacting the state's Rural Development Fund and infrastructure projects. Expressing discontent, Mann emphasized Punjab's historical sacrifices, stating, "We produce 182 metric tons of rice, yet our Rural Development Fund of Rs 5500 crore has been halted by the Centre." Addressing the Republic Day parade exclusion, Mann questioned, "Can they celebrate Republic Day without Punjab?" He criticized the rejection of Punjab's tableau, asserting that the martyrs who fought for freedom are now sidelined. Mann criticized Governor Banwarilal Purohit, stating, "Governor calls our session illegal, and we had to move to the Supreme Court, which ruled in our favor." Recalling the farmers' protest, Mann noted the loss of 750 lives and criticized the government for not meeting farmers' demands, warning of their return to Delhi. Raising concerns about electoral fairness, Mann cited "rigging" in Chandigarh Mayoral elections, questioning the handling of votes and expressing worry about counting in future elections. Highlighting interference by BJP governors, Mann criticized their actions in states where the party is not even in opposition, contrasting it with non-interference in BJP-ruled states. Accusing the Central Government of conditional fund release, Mann revealed, "To release central funds, we are asked to put Prime Minister Modi's photo on scheme-related items." Economists for Public Interest, Patiala, Punjab, including Professor Lakhwinder Singh from the Institute for Human Development (IHD), New Delhi, and Professor Kesar Singh Bhangoo, former Professor of Economics at Punjabi University, Patiala, emphasized on Wednesday that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should strongly voice his protest against the Centre in the interest of the state. “The CM should lodge his protest strongly. We had earlier also written to the Centre to give a moratorium of 10 years to the state on its debt. The Centre should also give us special assistance. It has been helping states like Himachal Pradesh by giving them a special industrial package. This is the reason our industry has also flowed to Baddi and Barotiwala in Himachal. That is why new investors turned away from Punjab. It is the responsibility of the Centre to help Punjab, which has been the food bowl of the country and has provided food security to the nation,” said Prof Bhangoo. He expressed concern about the BJP's emphasis on double-engine governments, stating, “This clearly shows their intent. They want a BJP government in states and they would try not to help financially any state that goes with the Opposition. This is the biggest threat to federalism. What I feared in 2017 when the GST regime was being brought in has come true. I wonder why all flag bearers of federalism gave in to the idea of one nation one tax. They should have insisted on keeping at least 70 per cent of the tax. Now, the Opposition states are suffering.”
