Centre’s funds to states not charity: Karnataka CM

Bengaluru: Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for saying that states “opposing the idea of development” won’t get support from the Centre, Karnataka Chief Minister on Monday said: “What the Centre gives states is their right, not charity.” Referring to Modi’s statements of Sunday in Gujarat, Siddaramaiah tweeted: “This shows a lack of understanding of Constitution. What Centre gives states is not charity. It is our right.” Modi had said in Vadodara on Sunday: “Our priority is development. We will not give a single penny to those (state governments) opposing development.” Modi added that Gujarat made progress only when the government in the Centre was sympathetic to the state’s interests. IANS