Bangalore: Congress's Lok Sabha MP DK Suresh stirred controversy on Thursday when he suggested that demanding a separate country might be the only recourse for Karnataka, given the alleged insufficient funds from the Centre. Reacting to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Union Budget presentation, Suresh claimed that South India was facing injustice, with funds meant for the region being diverted to the North. He argued that seeking a "separate country" was a result of the situation imposed by the Hindi region on South India.
In response to Suresh's statement, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya accused the Congress Party of employing a 'Divide and Rule' strategy throughout its history. Surya criticized Suresh for attempting to create divisions between the North and South. He presented data to counter the claim of insufficient funds, asserting that tax devolution to Karnataka has increased under the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Surya condemned Congress' divisive approach, expressing confidence that the people of Karnataka would resist such tactics.
Another prominent Karnataka BJP leader, R Ashoka, emphasized the detrimental impact of the Congress party's divide-and-rule policy, highlighting how the country had already experienced division once and now faced the prospect of further separation. He criticized Suresh's divisive statement, asserting that it contradicted the commitment that parliamentarians make to protect the integrity and sovereignty of the country.
In contrast, Karnataka Congress chief and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also DK Suresh's brother, downplayed the controversial remarks. Shivakumar stated that Suresh was expressing "people's opinion" due to perceived neglect and injustice. While affirming his commitment to the unity of India, Shivakumar distanced himself from his brother's suggestion of seeking a separate country, emphasizing the need for justice for every village.
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