The Karnataka Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Information Technology, Priyank Kharge speaks to The Indian Express on the state government-led protest being held in Delhi on Wednesday, and why it was forced to take the step. Excerpts:

Q) What has prompted the Delhi protest led by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and including the entire state Cabinet?

It is nothing new what we are saying. We said this even during our previous tenure – that the Central government has been unfair to Karnataka in spite of the state being the economic powerhouse of the country, whether it is GST collection, revenues or IT (Information Technology) that we deliver. We are always in the Top 3 bracket and, yet, somehow, we get short-changed when it comes to devolution of funds and taxes, even reimbursement for that matter. We are just asking for a fair devolution and redressal of our concerns.

Q) Does the state have other concerns?

See, in a federal structure, you cannot treat a state in an unfair manner only because you are not in power there. We are facing a severe drought situation. We asked for Rs 36,000 crore, out of which Rs 18,000 crore can come from the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), and the rest we will manage… But there is zero. The Revenue Minister, Agriculture Minister and myself visited Delhi on more than three occasions seeking an appointment, but we don’t even get any appointments. I have written to the Panchayati Raj (Ministry) four-five times… there has been no response.

So we’re just asking, why this kind of treatment? And what does the drought manual say? The drought manual says that if it’s a drought-declared state, the MNREGS kicks in for 150 days instead of 100. How long do we have to beg the Central government to do that? The wages of people who have worked in the MNREGS… these have not been compensated till now. Every three months, there is a huge gap of close to around Rs 600 crore that we have to keep meeting. So if we start filling (the gap), then what is the Central government supposed to do?

Q) The state has been complaining about the devolution of funds.

Under the 14th Finance Commission, we would get around 4.71% of the taxes. This has fallen to 3.64% in the 15th Finance Commission. So, we have incurred a loss of close to around Rs 1.87 lakh crore. And when the 15th Finance Commission has itself recommended that you deserve something… because of the loss involved in the share of devolution of taxes, the Finance Minister who is from Karnataka rejects it!

It has become a mockery. Irrigation projects… they are national projects… you have taken up the Upper Bhadra… you have not done anything. You have not given us permission for the Mekedatu project, then the Kalaburagi Railway division that Mr (Mallikarjun) Kharge envisioned, it is an economically viable project, you have not allowed it to even take off. You have kept Rs 1,000 for it. Is it not a mockery? Rs 1,000 for a railway division… We are not a BIMARU state, we are an economic powerhouse. Imagine how we feel when for every Rs 100 that we pay, Rs 13 comes back to us and Uttar Pradesh gets Rs 333.

Q) But the formula for devolution of taxes is devised by the Finance Commission.

So how is it that Madhya Pradesh is getting Rs 279, UP is getting Rs 333…

Q) So you want a new formula to be devised?

We have already written to the government about what the 16th Finance Commission needs to do… We contribute so much and we get only Rs 44,485 crore, whereas UP gets Rs 2.18 lakh crore, MP Rs 95,000 crore.

Q) Your protest is happening just before the Lok Sabha elections.

When they (the BJP) inaugurated an incomplete Ram Mandir, which the Shankaracharyas were against… nobody asked such questions. But if we fight for our rights, people have a problem with it. Now is the time. The financial year is ending. We are presenting a budget. The Centre has presented a Budget (interim budget). The 16th Finance Commission is being looked at.

Q) At the same time, Congress leaders are saying there is no point in electing BJP MPs as they won’t take on the Central government. So isn’t it all electoral?

We have been saying that they (the BJP MPs) are spineless. We said that during previous elections as well. It is not that we are going to do a flash protest. We have been writing to the government, without a response. We have been coming to Delhi and knocking at their doors, but no response. What else do you expect us to do when the diplomatic channels have failed? When I am not able to talk to my own minister in the Central government… or the Central government ministers do not have time for us?

Q) Congress Lok Sabha MP D K Suresh said the South might have to seek a separate country (the party later criticised the statement). On Thursday, the Kerala government is holding a similar protest as yours. Do you see a South alliance taking shape?

It is not just us. Every state following good governance is being punished, instead of being rewarded… In a federal structure… we have no problems sharing. That is what we need to do, but you cannot overfeed somebody and underfeed somebody to the tune that progress just drops off and you become malnourished while trying to nourish somebody else. What policies are you evolving to ensure that we stay nourished?

Q) So do you see a South alliance taking shape?

Everybody is fighting for it separately, but sooner or later, it will evolve. Telangana is on a par with us because we are the same party (the Congress is also in power in the state). In Tamil Nadu, we are part of the coalition government. In Kerala, even though we are in the Opposition, we support these anti-federalism moves – how governors are being used as tools in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and partially in Karnataka; how come you never hear anything from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh; why there are no IT raids, no ED raids, no CBI, nothing (there).

Q) What is your realistic assessment of the Congress’s chances in Karnataka in the Lok Sabha elections?

We should pull it off. There is no excuse for not pulling it off. We will reach anywhere between 18 and 20.

Q) The BJP has tied up with the JD(S) in Karnataka. The perception is that there could be a Vokkaliga-Lingayat consolidation behind the coalition.

The JD(S) is a politically dead horse. The BJP is trying to flog it to run. Nothing is going to happen. They (the JD-S) do not have people either. It is extremely limited to the brothers (H D Deve Gowda’s sons). As we get closer to elections, you will see it disintegrate even more.