Bengaluru/Chennai: Deputy chief minister DK Shiva Kumar Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Centre’s proposed delimitation exercise, calling it a “political assault” on southern states and a threat to India’s federal structure.
Addressing a Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting of southern states, he accused the Union govt of punishing states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala for their success in population control and good governance. “The very foundation of our democracy—federalism—is under threat. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and every progressive state face a stark choice: submit to domination or rise in resistance. We choose resistance,” he declared, asserting that the Centre’s move to base delimitation solely on population would diminish the parliamentary representation of the South.
Additionally, he called for a strengthened Rajya Sabha to balance regional representation and a new fiscal federalism pact ensuring equitable resource sharing. He also urged for a National Language Rights Commission to protect linguistic diversity against “One Nation, One Language” policies.
Echoing Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy’s stance, he hinted at challenging the delimitation exercise in court. “We will fight in courts, in Parliament, and on the streets to protect our rights, our resources, and our identity,” he said.
The DCM invoked the legacy of Periyar, Ambedkar, and Basavanna, asserting that Karnataka and Tamil Nadu’s unity would be an unbreakable force.
Concluding his speech with poet Kuvempu’s lines, “You are the light of your life, you are the guardian of your life”, he urged all southern states to stand firm in their demand for justice.
‘Southern states treated as ATM machines for North’
Highlighting Karnataka’s economic contribution, Shivakumar said the state contributes over Rs 4 lakh crore annually to the Centre’s Gross Tax Revenue but receives only Rs 45,000 crore in tax devolution and Rs 15,000 crore in grants. “For every rupee Karnataka contributes, only 13 paise comes back. This is not just economic injustice; it is systemic plunder,” he said.
He pointed out that Karnataka, with 5% of India’s population, contributes 8.4% to the national GDP and remains the highest GST contributor. “Southern states, contributing 35% of India’s GDP, are treated as ATM machines for the North, yet their share in central funds remains disproportionately low,” he said.
After arriving in Chennai early on Saturday, Shivakumar said: “We stand united to fight for our rights, existence, and the survival of the Constitution.”
He emphasised that southern states would not allow a reduction in their parliamentary representation, highlighting their contribution to the nation’s growth. “We are far ahead in several areas, including education, economic progress, and tax contributions,” he said, quoting a popular saying, “Coming together is the beginning, thinking together is progress, and working together is success.”
The Karnataka Assembly unanimously passed a resolution last year rejecting any delimitation based on a new census. The DCM reiterated the demand that the 1971 census remain the basis for representation, rewarding states that have controlled their population. “We demand a weighted formula that considers human development indices, tax contributions, and governance quality. Representation should not be based solely on population,” he added.