Bengaluru’s political corridors are buzzing with sharp criticism from Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, who on Wednesday accused the central government of discriminating against southern states in financial allocations. Speaking to reporters after endorsing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s support for Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalin’s call to strengthen federalism, Parameshwara highlighted glaring disparities in GST share distribution and major infrastructure projects.
‘Southern states are consistently shortchanged,’ he asserted. ‘We contribute the second-highest GST revenue to the Centre, yet big-ticket projects like highways, railways, and airports overwhelmingly favor northern states. This isn’t just Karnataka’s grievance—it’s a collective southern voice demanding fairness.’
Parameshwara didn’t shy away from defending his government’s borrowing practices amid opposition jabs at mounting state debt. ‘We’re well within the fiscal limits,’ he countered firmly. ‘The rule caps borrowing at 25% of revenue receipts, and Karnataka’s figures are the lowest among southern peers. Compare that to Maharashtra, where debt has ballooned past 95 lakh crore rupees.’
He emphasized strict financial discipline, painting a picture of prudent governance under the Congress-led administration. Turning to whispers of internal discord between Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Parameshwara dismissed them as routine democratic dynamics. Shivakumar’s invitation for a leaders’ dinner was hailed as a ‘positive step toward restraint and unity.’
‘Democracy thrives on such interactions,’ he noted, referencing traditions dating back to 1952 elections. ‘This is nothing new—it’s healthy politics fostering dialogue.’ As southern states unite against perceived inequities, Parameshwara’s remarks signal escalating tensions in India’s federal fiscal framework, with implications for national unity and resource sharing.