Amit Shah: 'Saying south states fund north, is ploy to damage federal system'

Mysuru, Mar 31: BJP supremo Amit Shah on Saturday came down heavily on Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and other influential politicians from South India, who often say that the southern states of the country are funding BJP-ruled northern states through the Finance Commission.

“Such a claim is a ploy to damage the federal system,” Shah said adding that the allocation of the 14th commission was made by the Congress-led UPA government. A better allocation will be made in the next commission for the uniform development of the nation, he said.

Commenting on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's claim that the allocation of Rs 2.19 lakh crore for Karnataka by the 14th Finance Commission was the state's right and not a 'favour done to Karnataka by the BJP', Shah said the NDA too, does not consider it to be a favour.

"But, why was the allocation in the 13th Finance Commission only Rs 88,583 crore? The Congress-led UPA had denied Karnataka's its right. The BJP has ensured that the state gets what is due," Shah said.

Shah said the 'cyclone of corruption' affecting the people in Karnataka due to Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, would turn into a tsunami if the Congress is re-elected.

"Siddaramaiah claims to be a champion of the OBCs. But his own party scuttled the bill that would have given Constitutional status to the OBC Commission. Their leader stalled the passing of the bill seeking a provision to nominate a member of the minority community in the commission," Shah recalled.

The bill which was passed in the Lok Sabha was stalled in the Rajya Sabha due to the adamant attitude of the Congress, he added.

Shah also targeted the JD(S), saying that the party had its own limitations, and can't form the government on its own.