Cong MP DK Suresh Under Fire for 'Separate Southern Nation' Remark, Siddaramaiah Says 'You Can't Ask...'

Calling himself a ‘proud Indian’, Congress MP DK Suresh has issued a clarification for his “separate country for South India” remark, saying the intention behind his statement was to bring to notice the “injustice in funds distribution” by the BJP-led central government.

DK Suresh landed on soup over an alleged warning of a separate southern nation while attacking the centre on releasing funds for Southern states after Union Budget 2024 was presented in Parliament on Thursday. The statement has invited severe criticism from the BJP.

The Controversy

The Bangalore Rural MP said the injustice is meted out to the southern states in tax distribution while the tax money is distributed to North India.

“Our tax money is being distributed to north India, if we don’t condemn it there might arise a situation where we will have to demand for a separate nation,” DK Suresh said while responding to a question on the Interim Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha today.

The Karnataka Congress leader alleged that the southern states are not getting their proper share of tax return and added that injustice is caused to the southern states by the Hindi speaking states.

His Clarification

However, later in the day, the Congress leader posted a thread on X (formerly Twitter) clarifying his remarks.

“A proud Indian and a proud Kannadiga! South India and especially Karnataka have faced the brutality of injustice in funds distribution. Even after being the 2nd largest GST-contributing state, the Centre has been utterly unjust to Karnataka and Southern states while states like Gujarat have seen a 51 per cent hike. If this is not injustice, then what is?” he asked.

BJP Vs Congress

The BJP lashed out at the Congress for “hatching a dangerous plot to partition India yet again.”

“Faced with constant rejection by Indians, Congress is now seeding secessionism. Following Nehru’s legacy, Karnataka Deputy CM @DKShivakumar’s brother, @DKSureshINC demands a separate country,” the BJP attacked the Congress MP on X.

“If Congress leaders do not wish to live in India, they are more than welcome to quit India and move to their ‘Motherland’ Italy,” the saffron party added.

Karnataka Chief Minister CM Siddaramaiah, responding to Suresh’s remark, said one cannot ask for a separate nation for all this. Siddaramaiah, who is also from the Congress, added, “In a federal state you can ask for what belongs to you, but not for a separate nation.”