Karnataka got raw deal in Budget; no point in attending NITI Aayog meet: DK Shivakumar

Karnataka DyCM DK Shivakumar on Wednesday defended the Congress government’s decision to boycott the July 27 meeting of the NITI Aayog, saying the state has got a raw deal in the Union Budget and its interests have not been protected.

CM Siddaramaiah said on Tuesday the decision was taken as a mark of protest against the “neglect” of the state’s demands in the Union Budget.

“What is the point of attending NITI Aayog meeting when it doesn’t have ‘neeti’? Karnataka has got a raw deal in the Union Budget. The State has not got any projects and its interests have not been protected. We have decided to boycott the NITI Aayog meeting and stage a protest instead,” Shivakumar told reporters.

Siddaramaiah said on Tuesday that despite his earnest efforts in calling for an all-party meeting of MPs in New Delhi to discuss Karnataka’s essential needs, the Union Budget has neglected the state’s demands.

“Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who attended the meeting, has ignored the concerns of the people of Karnataka. We don’t feel Kannadigas are heard, and hence there is no point in attending the NITI Aayog meeting,” the CM had said.