Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, ministers protest in Delhi against Centre’s ‘injustice’ in tax devolution

“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 ₹4.30 lakh crores as tax. Karnataka gives Rs 100 (in terms of revenue) to the Centre but gets back only Rs 13. Karnataka has lost Rs 62,098 crore in devolution of taxes in 2025-26 because of the (shift from) 14th Finance Commission to 15th Finance Commission. That is why we are agitating,” he said.

The Karnataka Congress politicians began gathering at Jantar Mantar around 10.30 am amid sloganeering and holding banners and placards that read “Our Sweat Our Blood Our Tax” and “We Demand Fair Share, Justice For Karnataka”. As Kannada songs blared from loudspeakers, Siddaramaiah addressed the gathering from 12 pm to 1 pm surrounded by Karnataka state flags.

“Nirmala Sitharaman says ‘I do not want to interfere in the report of the Finance Commission’. Why are you lying? This is all based on facts. Anybody can verify from the budget documents of the Government of India,” Siddaramaiah said.

The protesters demanded that the Centre set right the losses to the tune of Rs 1.87 lakh crore allegedly incurred by Karnataka under the 15th Finance Commission. Siddaramaiah said the protest was not against the BJP but the discrimination against Karnataka.

“Rs 1.87 lakh crore. In such a big way, injustice was done to Karnataka. Should we keep quiet? Should we not protect the interests of Kannadigas? As CM of the state, I have written so many letters to the Centre but I have not received any reply,” he said.

The Karnataka Congress politicians began gathering at Jantar Mantar around 10.30 am amid sloganeering and holding banners and placards that read “Our Sweat Our Blood Our Tax” and “We Demand Fair Share, Justice For Karnataka”. (Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

Dismissing the BJP’s allegation that the protest was aimed at raking up the north-south divide, the chief minister said the Congress wanted the country to be united but that there should be no discrimination against the southern states.

“I am making this very very clear. That is why I have written a letter to all the MPs of BJP and JDS to participate in this agitation. But they did not participate. It is because we are raising this issue of discrimination meted out by the Government of India, particularly to the state of Karnataka and also [other] southern states,” he said.

Shivakumar, who also spoke during the protest, said, “Shrimati Nirmala Sitharaman is saying that the central government doesn’t have any powers and it all depends upon the Finance Commission. It is an autonomous body, I agree. But what discrimination has been done has to be set right. It is the duty of the Government of India.”

Shivakumar said the chief minister had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah for funds for drought relief. “Not even a single rupee has been given,” he said.

“When there was this double-engine government (in the state), Nirmala Sitharaman had promised various grants to the people of Karnataka. Even after one year, not even a single rupee has been given. I wish to remind Nirmala Sitharaman, who is representing Karnataka (in the Rajya Sabha),” he added.

Asking the Centre to treat all states equally, Shivakumar said, “They have given Gift City to Gujarat. Give us also a Gift City. Let them give an opportunity to Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Maharashtra. India is a united country, it is not just one state.”

The deputy chief minister said that nothing is permanent in politics. “They were two MPs, now they are 300. We were 400 MPs and now we are 51. Tomorrow we will become 300 and they will become 51,” he said.

Shivakumar expressed confidence that the protest would be fruitful. “Justice has to be done. All the documents, all the numbers are perfect. They will have to look at the papers. They also know that injustice has been done. Some of them tried to rectify it but they did not get the grant. Whatever promise they made in the budget, they could not do. Whatever we are presenting are facts. There is a big loss to Karnataka,” he said.

BJP protest in Bengaluru

In Bengaluru, meanwhile, BJP legislators protested in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Vidhana Soudha premises against the state government’s failure in tackling drought. Leader of the Opposition R Ashok, BJP state president BY Vijayendra and former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and other legislators tried to close down the secretariat as none of the ministers were present. They were stopped and detained by police.

Karnataka BJP leaders staged a protest in front of Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha against the government failure in tackling drought situation in the state. (Express Photo)

BJP parliamentary board member BS Yediyurappa told reporters that the Congress government had failed to tackle drought and drinking water issues.

Calling the Delhi protest a “big drama”, Yediyurappa said that Siddaramaiah had taken all Congress legislators to Delhi to hide their failures. “They should think to what extent this was right” he said.

“Their objective is to gain publicity and not to solve the issue,” the former chief minister said. “This will damage the party (and) people.”

(With inputs from Akram S in Bengaluru)