"For every one rupee contributed by Kannadigas in taxes, the Union Government returns only 15 paise. Should this be called “tax terrorism” or “tax plunder”? Do BJP leaders in the state have the courage to answer this? In the last financial year, the Centre collected over ₹4.50 lakh crore from Karnataka through taxes, cess, and surcharges. In return, the state received only ₹79,000 crore. Over the past three years, we have repeatedly raised this injustice with the Union Government. We have even protested in Delhi, voicing our concerns in front of Parliament. At that time, BJP leaders like @BSBommai and @RAshokaBJP remained silent, failing to stand up for the interests of seven crore Kannadigas. Today, they choose to speak against us. Karnataka has emerged as a leading state in GST performance. It ranks second in total GST collections and stands first in growth rate, recording a 17% increase. Yet, despite this strong contribution, the state receives only about 52% in return. The flawed and unscientific implementation of GST has resulted in significant financial losses for Karnataka, amounting to thousands of crores. The Union Government has further weakened the state’s financial position by denying our rightful share under the 15th Finance Commission, not sharing cess and surcharge revenues, failing to compensate GST losses, and underfunding centrally sponsored schemes. This has forced Karnataka into a situation where borrowing becomes unavoidable. If Karnataka receives its fair share in tax devolution, GST compensation, and adequate funding for centrally sponsored schemes, I am confident the state can manage its finances without borrowing even a single rupee. Are BJP leaders willing to accept this challenge? Karnataka is the second-largest contributor of taxes to the Centre after Maharashtra. Despite consistently contributing more to the nation’s wealth, the state’s rightful share has steadily declined over the years. BJP leaders who exaggerate Karnataka’s borrowing conveniently ignore the growing debt burden imposed by the Centre on every Indian. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, the national debt stood at ₹51.06 lakh crore. By the 2026–27 Budget, it has risen to ₹214 lakh crore. This amounts to an average debt burden of around ₹1.5 lakh per citizen. This burden also falls on the seven crore people of Karnataka - a fact that leaders like Bommai and Ashoka would do well to acknowledge before making statements." - Chief Minister Shri @siddaramaiah
