Kerala and Tamil Nadu have joined their neighbouring southern state of Karnataka in protesting against the BJP-led Centre over alleged discrimination and neglect in the allocation of funds.

Kerala’s Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Tamil Nadu’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged protests in Delhi on Thursday (February 8) against the matter.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is leading the LDF agitation in Delhi. He said on Thursday, “We have come together to register our strong protest and preserve the federal structure of India. Today, we are making the beginning of a reunited fight that would herald the dawn of ensuring equal treatment of the states. This fight will also strive to maintain balance in the Centre-State relation. 8th Feb is going to be a red letter day in the history of India.”

Also Read: Karnataka Congress’s ‘Chalo Delhi’ protest at Jantar Mantar: What is the agitation about?

The Left Front ministers, parliamentarians, and legislators are also participating in the protest that commenced at 11 am in the national capital.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu DMK MPs staged a protest in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises over financial neglect faced by the southern state.

MK Stalin had, on Tuesday (February 6), written a letter to Pinarayi Vijayan stating that he extends full support towards the Kerala government’s legal measures against the central government for allegedly releasing the funds allocated to the state. In the letter, he also said that DMK would take part in the agitation and the party leaders would be wearing black clothes.

“Our voice will not rest until we establish cooperative federalism and retrieve state autonomy,” the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said.

Karnataka government was the first to take the streets as top leaders of the state, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar, gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday. They claim the BJP-ruled government at the Centre is withholding funds and has purposefully reduced the state’s share of tax revenue.

Shivakumar said Karnataka ranks second in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection and is the biggest contributor to the country’s revenue. “We are asking for our rights, we are asking for our share. The Karnataka government had sought drought relief funds from the Centre but not even a single rupee was given,” he said.

Also Read: BJP stages protest in Bengaluru to counter Congress’s ‘Chalo Delhi’ dharna at Jantar Mantar

Through their demonstrations, the southern state governments aim to highlight the “injustice” in tax devolution and grants-in-aid they have been subjected to over the past few years.

What is the protest about?

The centre vs south row over funds allocation to states has heated up since Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Budget on February 1. The ongoing session of Parliament has witnessed several arguments between the Centre and the Opposition over the issue. The funds allocation issue also saw Sitharaman and the Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury squabbling in Parliament.

Chowdhury claimed non-BJP states, specifically in South India were “deprived of their financial dues”, including those related to GST, or Goods and Services Tax, compensation.

Sitharaman hit back, explaining that “devolution to states… happens as per Finance Commission recommendation”, and that she had no “discretion” in the allocation of tax revenues.

BJP launches protest of its own

Not to be outdone, the BJP launched a protest of its own – in Bengaluru – to highlight the “failures” of the Congress government in Karnataka. BJP legislators and leaders led by the party state president BY Vijayendra staged a sit-in demonstration in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue near Vidhana Soudha yesterday, which houses the State Legislature and Secretariat of Karnataka.

Holding placards, the protestors raised slogans condemning the Congress government for allegedly failing to offer relief to drought-hit farmers and incentives to milk producers.

(With inputs from agencies)