Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 14 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday focused the Congress-led Karnataka authorities and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, accusing them of peddling a ‘false narrative’ that the Centre neglects the State.
Addressing the Viksit Bharat Sankalpa Samavesha in Bengaluru, Sitharaman knowledgeable that Karnataka has acquired 5 instances extra Central tax devolution as in opposition to allocation throughout the earlier Congress-led UPA tenure.
She refuted allegations of the State authorities in Karnataka that the State is disadvantaged of Central allocations.
‘The devolution of taxes decided by the Finance Commission has seen Karnataka obtain Rs 4 lakh crore between 2014 and 2026. This is 5 instances greater than the Rs 82,000 crore given to the state throughout the 5 years pre-2014,’ she mentioned.
‘In the present monetary 12 months alone, the tax devolution to Karnataka is Rs 63,000 crore. This single 12 months’s switch is the same as 76 per cent of what the state acquired in 10 full years below the earlier UPA dispensation. After seeing these numbers, they’ve gone ‘Igdam Chup’ (utterly silent),’ she mentioned.
The Finance Minister famous that Grants-in-aid to Karnataka rose to Rs 2.71 lakh crore between 2014 and 2026, in comparison with simply Rs 60,000 crore throughout the 10 years of the UPA authorities.
She additionally emphasised the particular Rs 18,000 crore interest-free mortgage (50-year tenure) offered to Karnataka since 2021. ‘This was not beneficial by the Finance Commission; there was no compulsion on us. But Prime Minister Modi felt each state ought to have cash to put money into capital property,’ the Union Minister mentioned.
Futher Sitharaman listed the Centre’s main contributions. The annual common finances for Karnataka Railways below UPA (2009-14) was Rs 835 crore and below PM Modi’s authorities, it jumped nine-fold to Rs 7,700 crore yearly. She added that 1,650 km of recent tracks have been laid and 96.5 per cent of the state’s rail community is now electrified.
She identified that 10 Vande Bharat trains have been launched within the state. Apart from the world-class Terminal 2 in Bengaluru, seven ‘Udaan’ airports at the moment are operational, with new greenfield airports authorized for Vijayapura and Hassan.
Over 8,100 km of National Highways have been constructed. She additionally highlighted the 8,500-acre Tumkur Industrial Node, the primary of its variety in South India, involving a Rs 7,000 crore funding for the Bengaluru Chennai Industrial hall undertaking.
She additional mentioned that Rs 1354 crore rupees have been granted to take up Renewable power tasks. Koppal and Gadag, she mentioned, will probably be inexperienced power hubs by June subsequent 12 months.
Sitharaman mentioned that Karnataka has additionally benefited from Jandhan, Mudra loans, Ayushman, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ujwala, Kisan Sammaan, Janaushadhi Kendras and incentives given to start-ups.
Sitharaman additionally criticised the Karnataka authorities for allegedly shutting down PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which offer reasonably priced medicines to the poor.
‘I do not know what frequent sense prevailed, however they’ve opened them up now after a High Court order. Can you imagine the pettiness?’ she requested. ‘They are feeling insecure that Modi’s measures are touching the hearts of the center class. They shut these centres to assert we solely work for large industrialists, however it’s the frequent citizen who suffered.’
The Union Finance Minister acknowledged that Prime Minister Modi views all Chief Ministers as ‘Team India’ and stays dedicated to cooperative federalism.
‘The fixed narrative of ‘Karnataka is just not getting its dues’ is getting used to make individuals doubt the Centre. But info are on the desk. We anticipate the states to contribute to the ‘Viksit Bharat’ mission as an alternative of participating in grievance politics,’ Sitharaman mentioned. (ANI)