Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the interim budget for the financial year 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha today, sparking a subsequent discussion on the budget. Congress MP DK Suresh, the younger brother of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, expressed concerns over perceived injustice to South India in the budgetary allocations.
According to him, funds that are rightfully due to South India are disproportionately distributed to the northern states. He argued that this division is based on language, with resources favoring Hindi-speaking northern states over non-Hindi speaking ones.
Suresh pointed out that Karnataka, in particular, is not receiving an equitable share of funds from the Centre. Frustrated by this alleged neglect, he suggested that South Indians might have no option but to demand a separate country, advocating for the creation of 'South India.' In contrast, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya accused the Congress of pursuing a strategy of division, asserting that the party aims to rule the country without any opposition.
Responding to Suresh's remarks, DK Shivakumar stated that his brother's opinion reflects the sentiments of the people in South India, who feel ignored in the allocation of resources. However, he clarified that despite these concerns, the unity of the country remains paramount.
The president of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Mallikarjun Kharge, emphasized the party's stance against any discussions about dividing the country.
Addressing the issue during the Budget Session in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge asserted, "If anyone talks about dividing the country, irrespective of their party affiliation, we will not tolerate it. From Kanyakumari to Kashmir, we are all one. We will remain united."
Kharge's statement reinforced the commitment of the Congress party to the unity and integrity of the nation. In the midst of differing opinions on regional allocations and concerns, the overarching message conveyed was the importance of maintaining national unity, transcending regional disparities and language-based divisions.