Karnataka: Will BJP and JD(S) leaders partake in State Government’s protest against alleged tax discrimination?

The state government of Karnataka is set to protest against the Central Government over alleged discrimination in tax distribution. Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah has invoked the identity of belonging to Karnataka on this occasion. He made an appeal to legislators across party lines to lend their voice for this cause.

Siddaramaiah has written a letter to the 25 Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Karnataka, Former Prime Minister of India from the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) H.D Devegowda, Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitharmana who also won her Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka and the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs of India Pralhad Joshi. He requested their endorsement for this campaign. This has resulted in a dilemma for the leaders of the BJP and JD(S).

 The protests will unfold in Delhi on January 7th. Congress leaders will assemble outside the Jantar Mantar in Delhi. A Satyagraha will be held for a period of one day. 

The BJP has however given a political angle to this protest. Leaders B.Y Raghavendra and Muniswamy claimed that political gain is the motivating cause for this protest. Member of Parliament from Kalaburagi Umesh G Jadhav however indicated that the figures are pointing to discrimination with regard to tax distribution in Karnataka.