The BJP on Tuesday lodged a protest with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot against the state government’s alleged use of public money to issue front page advertisements in various newspapers asking people to take part in ‘Chalo Delhi’ march against the Central government.
Ahead of a planned showdown in Delhi led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on February 7 at Jantar Mantar, the Congress government issued an advertisement in various newspapers asking people to march to Delhi. The advertisement read: “To protest against the financial atrocities committed by the Central government on Kannadigas and Karnataka - Chalo Delhi”.
The state government claimed that not even a penny for drought relief was given to the state though the demand was for Rs 18,177 crore. A special grant of Rs 5,495 crore as recommended by the 15th Finance Commission has been announced.
The government also alleged that there was disparity in the tax share given by the Centre to the State.
It also accused the Centre of cutting grants for collaborative schemes.
“Losses to Karnataka by Central government from 2017-18 was Rs 1.87 lakh crore,” the government claimed in its advertisement. In its memorandum to Gehlot, the BJP alleged that the advertisement “incites the people of Karnataka with misleading and false information regarding devolution of funds from the Centre”.