Refuting allegations by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that reduction in the State’s share of Central funds had nullified the increase in the allocation of tax revenues made in the 14th Finance Commission to Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party State unit has decided to move a privilege motion against him in the next legislature session.
The Chief Minister, while replying to a discussion in the legislature on the State budget, had said the reduction in funds had not only eroded the Finance Commission’s allocation, but also resulted in an additional burden of Rs. 1,987 crore on the State exchequer.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Saturday, BJP State general secretary C.T. Ravi said the total reduction in Central share of funds from 24 projects, of the 66 Centrally-sponsored projects, was Rs. 4,369 crore. On the other hand, increase in the allocation of Central funds to Karnataka through the 14th Finance Commission was Rs. 9,508 crore. Hence, there was no question of the decrease in the Central share in the budget, he argued.
He accused the Chief Minister of intentionally making false statements. Demanding an apology from the Chief Minister for “misleading” the people of the State, he urged him to bring out a White Paper to place facts before people. Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Nirmala Sitharaman, on Saturday vehemently denied that the NDA government at the Centre had “cheated” Karnataka by fully reducing the Central share of funds for State projects.
