Karnataka CM Says ‘Planning To File Suit’ Against PM Modi Over His 'Looting' Remark

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the state is "met with an injustice" on tax devolution, and added that the state contributes a lot in taxes but does not receive its fair share in return.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "looted" allegation, stating that the prime minister only said it to get votes and that they are planning on filing a suit against it. 

CM Siddaramaiah said that PM Modi was lying, while addressing the media he said, “It is to mislead the people to get votes. We will examine the legal angles. We are planning to file a suit against this," as per ANI. 

PM Modi was speaking at a gathering when he mocked Congress’,  'Garibi Hatao' slogan. He said that Congress had looted the poor in Karnataka, adding that the party's mentality was to ensure that the poor did not progress. "If the poor are benefiting, you feel happy, but the Congress doesn't feel happy over this," Modi said, addressing a rally at Panvel in Maharashtra for the November 20 state assembly elections. He referred to Congress as the ‘enemy of the poor’.

Further, he slammed Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy for not speaking for the state over tax devolution. He said, "Did HD Kumaraswamy give any benefit to the poor? What moral right he have? The central government is not giving our due share. Did he ever speak for Karnataka in the tax devolution? NABARD comes under the Union Finance Minister. I had written the letter to PM and Union Finance Minister also to not do that."

Earlier on November 1, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the state is "met with an injustice" on tax devolution, and added that the state contributes a lot in taxes but does not receive its fair share in return. "Today Karnataka is met with an injustice in the tax devolution. We are second after Maharashtra. We are contributing 4 lakh crores in the form of taxes but we are getting less in return," he said during Rajyotsava Day being celebrated in Bengaluru.

On November 1, CM Siddaramaiah said that the state had been “subjected to injustice” regarding tax devolution, the added that while Karnataka contributed significantly in taxes, it didn’t receive a proper share in return. He said the state was second after Maharashtra. 

“We are contributing 4 lakh crores in the form of taxes but we are getting less in return," he said during Rajyotsava Day being celebrated in Bengaluru.