Nirmala Sitharaman consistently denies written word: K'taka CM Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday attacked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her defence of the Centre's funds devolution, saying she did not understand the concept of rightful share of the states.

Taking to social media platform X, the CM said Sitharaman had been consistently denying the written word. "One expects the country’s Finance Minister to speak the truth," he said.

Earlier in the day, Sitharaman said every penny the Centre owed Karnataka had been paid in full and on time.


Siddaramaiah, whose government has taken the Centre to Supreme Court on Saturday over a "five-month delay” in the release of drought relief, said the 15th Finance Commission's final report had recommended Rs 6,000 crore for Karnataka, Rs 3000 crore for revival of water bodies & Rs 3000 crore for the Peripheral Ring Road for Bengaluru. "The Ministry of Finance under the leadership of Mrs Nirmala Sitaraman refused to accept these two recommendations thus denying the rightful share for Karnataka," he said.

Grants under the commission, he added, were recommended to ensure that no state receives lower share in devolution in absolute numbers than the previous year. "Kannadigas demand their share. They are not begging," he said.