Opposition claims Centre neglects rival-ruled states in India

Opposition members of parliament (MPs) criticized the Indian government on Monday for allegedly ignoring states led by rival parties. They focused particularly on five southern states: Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Telangana. These states contribute significantly to the country's economy and tax revenue. However, they receive only a small portion of the tax income, raising concerns about fairness. Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP, expressed frustration during a discussion on the Finance Bill. He stated that the Centre was keeping too much tax revenue and was unfairly shifting funds away from states. He called for an independent body to ensure that states have a say in how tax money is distributed. Other opposition MPs also voiced their concerns. DMK MP Kalanidhi Veeraswamy suggested that the Finance Bill's tax exemptions were politically motivated, benefiting the ruling party in the recent Delhi elections. He highlighted that Tamil Nadu pays substantial taxes but receives much less back from the Centre, leaving the state at a disadvantage. Punjab MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal pointed out that the budget failed to address the Minimum Support Price issue, which has been a significant concern for farmers. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the Centre owes West Bengal ₹2 lakh crore, framing it as a key issue for the upcoming elections. The TMC plans to strengthen its campaign on this topic, working to prevent electoral fraud and improve voter rolls. Their training for election supervisors will wrap up by the end of April.