Funds: Siddaramaiah hits out at Prime Minister

Taking serious exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that “not a penny would be released to those opposing development”, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said it was not right for a Prime Minister to comment in such a manner. Speaking to presspersons at Hubballi Airport on Monday, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that in a democratic country, the Prime Minister should not issue such a statement. Later, he tweeted: “This shows a lack of understanding of the Constitution. What the Centre gives States is not charity. It is our right.” Again, while addressing a gathering of beneficiaries of various government schemes at the Belagavi divisional level ‘Mahiti Utsav’ in Dharwad, Mr. Siddaramaiah referred to the PM’s statement. “Asking funds from the Centre is our right. We are in a federal structure and under it, the Centre should give funds to the State as it gets taxes from the State. Saying that Centre will not release funds to States will be anti-constitutional.” On Sunday, addressing a public gathering at Vadodara in Gujarat, Mr. Modi had said States governments opposing development would not receive any help from Union government.