CM alleges step-motherly treatment by Centre

Karnataka today lashed out at the Centre, accusing it of meting out "grave injustice" to the state in granting financial assistance.

Chief Minister S M Krishna today lashed out at the Centre, accusing it of meting out "grave injustice" to the state in granting foodgrains and financial assistance to tackle severe drought.

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"Karnataka has suffered most injustice for no reason as the Centre did not respond to our repeated pleas," he charged at an election meeting here, as he kicked off the second leg of his "Vijaya Dundhubi Yatra" in Bijapur district.

He said though the Centre declared that Karnataka was the only state reeling under drought this year, it meted out "step motherly" treatment while granting higher assistance to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

"Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh remained in the focus of the Centre. Why?" he asked. Andhra Pradesh got 51 lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains but Karnataka was sanctioned only 13 lakh metric tonnes and Rs 300 crore assistance, he said.

He alleged that even in devolution of funds, Karnataka got a "raw deal". As against its contribution of Rs 17,000 crore of revenue by way of Income Tax and excise duties, the Centre released only Rs 7,000 crore to the state, he said.