The Rajya Sabha had a stormy start when BJP parliamentarian Piyush Goyal raised a comment made by Karnataka Congress MP D.K. Suresh, who claimed that taxes collected from the south were being distributed to north India. Suresh stated that southern states could be forced to demand a separate nation if this “injustice” was not rectified. Goyal demanded action against him and an apology from the Congress, questioning if the party endorsed the idea of splitting the country. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge defended Suresh, stating that Congress leaders had sacrificed their lives for the country and that the party would never tolerate any talk of breaking the country. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also criticized the statement. In response to the interim budget, D.K. Suresh reiterated the claim that taxes from the south were being unjustly distributed to the north, leading to the potential need for a separate nation. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah attempted to downplay the controversy, stating that sovereignty should prevail but acknowledging the injustice in tax devolution. The BJP’s criticism led to calls for action against D.K. Suresh and the matter to be sent to the ethics committee.
BJP demands action on Congress MP’s controversial “separate nation for south India” remark in RS, sparks heated debate
