Congress MP Sparks Fresh Row Over Budget, Demands Separate Country For South
NDTV
"If we don't condemn this in the upcoming days, we will have to place a demand for a separate country as a result of situation the Hindi-speaking region has forced on us," said Congress MP DK Suresh Kumar.
A Karnataka Congress leader, shortly after the presentation of the interim budget today, accused the Centre of depriving south India of its share of developmental funds and using it to buttress north India. If the issue is not addressed, the south will have to be a "separate country", said Congress MP DK Suresh Kumar. The BJP accused the party of having a divisive mentality.
The Congress, which came to power in Karnataka last year, has been echoing Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's complaint of not receiving the state's share of central funds.
Alleging that south India is being served "injustice at every stage", and "all matters", Mr Kumar said, "We want to receive our money. Whether it is the GST, Custom or Direct taxes, we want to receive our rightful share... our share of money for development is getting distributed to North India".
