Karnataka   

Krishna questions Vajpayee's stand on regional imbalances

By Our Staff Correspondent

SHAKTHINAGAR (RAICHUR DT.), APRIL 14. The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, today accused the Centre of failing to concede the State's demand to amend Article 371 of the Constitution to provide special reservation in education and jobs to people hailing from the Hyderabad Karnataka region.

Reacting to a statement made on the issue by the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in Belgaum on Tuesday, he told presspersons that it was ridiculous for Mr. Vajpayee to speak of development of north Karnataka when the Centre had rejected the demand to amend Article 371.

The Prime Minister had said that north Karnataka should progress on a par with other developed regions. He had no right to talk about the issue when his Government had rejected the State's plea, Mr. Krishna said.

The Chief Minister alleged that the Centre had failed to meet the demand even when he (Mr. Krishna) led an all-party delegation to the Prime Minister.

To a question, Mr. Krishna said that in seeking an amendment to Article 371, the State Government had prepared a report based on the recommendations of the High Power Committee for the Redressal of Regional Imbalances, headed by D.M. Nanjundappa, in which it had included other backward districts in the State along with the districts of the Hyderabad Karnataka region and submitted it to the Centre. But the Centre had taken no action on the State's request.

Asked about the failure of the State Government to implement the Nanjundappa committee's recommendations, Mr. Krishna cited the drought and paucity of funds for the delay in implementation.

Despite a lack of resources, the State Government had waived interest on farm loans and power supply dues, he said, because of which, the Government could not release the allocated funds to the Hyderabad Karnataka Development Board. Accusing the Centre of not supporting the State Government in tackling the drought, the Chief Minister said the State would have been in the doldrums but for the additional revenue mopped up through excise reforms.

He said the Government implemented the excise reforms to prevent evasion of tax on beverages and liquor.

It was able to collect Rs. 700 crore more on account of the reforms.

The Government planned to introduce reforms in tax collection at check-posts.

The centralisation of check-posts through computerisation would help prevent tax evasion, he added.

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