Siddaramaiah bats for regional pride

Team Udayavani, Mar 17, 2018, 10:10 AM IST

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to social networking putting forth a solid defence on the requirement for Karnataka to affirm its regional identity.

In the 1,001-word article, which has circulated around the web, Siddaramaiah expressed that stating one’s identity as a proud Kannadiga was not conflicting with one’s way identity as a proud Indian.

“Regardless of whether we now like it or not, the Indian states were sorted out on linguistic basis. A large number of the dialects and societies of the states pre-date the Indian identity. However, we Indians are bound by a typical history, common civilisation and a common fate,” Siddaramaiah composed. “Along these lines, in Karnataka when we talk about power to Kannada, contend against the burden of Hindi dialect, or call for reception of a state flag, we are certain we are adding to the working of a strong India.”

“Verifiably, the South has been financing the North,” he composed. “For instance, for each one rupee of tax contributed by Uttar Pradesh that state gets Rs 1.79. For each one rupee of tax contributed by Karnataka, the state gets Rs 0.47. Population is an unmistakable basis for devolution of central taxes. Till when can we keep boosting population growth?”