Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister HN Ananth Kumar ruled out any threat arising out of no confidence motion moved by the TDP and other Opposition parties . He told reporters in Bengaluru on Saturday that Narendra Modi-led Government enjoys confidence inside and outside the Parliament and ready to face the no confidence motion.
He said “I want to tell the Congress and the other opposition members that there is confidence inside and outside the house. That's why the BJP is ready to face the no-confidence motion.” He was in Bengaluru to take part in the BJP led Bengaluru Rakshisi march( save Bengaluru campaign) and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power with full majority and NDA had secured two thirds majority.
Ministers comments came when asked about the No Confidence Motion moved by the Telugu Desam Party(TDP) led by AP Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu following the refusal by the centre to special category status to AP. However he (Ananth Kuamr ) clarified that Modi government had given them an additional grant of rupees 24000 crores after the formation of Andhra Pradesh. He said TDP has taken this decision to move a no confidence motion keeping some of its issues in mind.
He claimed that no state in the country had ever received funds the way AP got for the construction and development of its capital Amaravati, Polavaram dam, national highways, irrigation and houses for the poor. Kumar felt that the TDP decided to come out of NDA and move the no confidence motion due to pressure from Congress and the YSR Congress. He said Modi led government was always with the people of AP and committed to their development. He came down on the Congress for trooping to the well of Parliament to lodge its protest despite NDA being always ready for discussions on all topics.
“We are ready for discussions on all the subjects in both the houses but Congress MPs are trooping to the well of the house. “Earlier whenever there were differences of opinion, opposition members used to walk out from the house. But in the recent past, Congress MPs are following an undemocratic tradition of trooping to the well of the house,” he said.
In another development in his unusual through social media expression Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has said developed south is subsidising populated north. Siddaramaiah who has made Kannada Pride as his poll plank on Friday in his Facebook page argued for greater autonomy of the states in policy making and also right of having their own flags. “The States need greater autonomy to run their economic policies, borrow internationally as long as they convince the lenders of their creditworthiness, build the infrastructure of their choice without depending too much for licences from the Center, and design programmes of their choice,” he added in his page.
“My identity as a proud Kannadiga is not inconsistent with my identity as a proud Indian. In Karnataka when we speak about primacy to Kannada, argue against imposition of Hindi language, or call for adoption of a State flag, we are confident we are contributing to building of a strong India; for, a confident nation is confident about the individuality of all her daughters,” he added.
Seeking transparency in the devolution of funds, Siddaramaiah said reforming States such as Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra contribute more to the Central taxes than what they get in return from the Center. Moreover, the grants under Centrally sponsored schemes come with strings attached.
“Schemes are designed keeping the entire country in mind and we are forced to implement them and provide our share.” Citing an example, the Chief Minister said for every one rupee of tax contributed, Uttar Pradesh receives 1.79, while Karnataka receives 47 paise.
Noting the need for correcting regional imbalances, he said southern States have nearly reached replacement levels of population growth. “Yet, population is a prominent criteria for devolution of the Central taxes. For how long can we keep incentivising population growthIJ”, Siddaramaiah asked.
On the lines of the GST Council, the CM said the States needed a standing mechanism for discussing trade policy and agrarian issues so that States have a better say in framing policies affecting farmers. Chief Minister also said States urgently needed a mechanism where they get a greater say in making of the nation’s policies.
Poll bound Karnataka is witnessing a major churning as state is crucial for both Congress and the BJP. Siddaramaiah is stoking apart from soft Hindutava also regionalism to counter the BJP. His Kannada Flag and other issues are a great emotional things in the state. Eom/blr