Mysuru: BJP’s achievement is raising Rs 165 lakh crore debt, says KPCC spokesperson M. Lakshman
Mysuru: KPCC spokesperson M. Lakshman on Wednesday strongly criticised the Union Budget, calling it corporate-driven, baseless and lacking long-term vision. He alleged that the BJP government’s achievement was pushing the country into massive debt amounting to Rs 165 lakh crore.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan in Mysuru, Lakshman said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a budget of Rs 53.50 lakh crore for 2026, marking her ninth budget and increasing the size by Rs 4 lakh crore compared to the previous year.
He said that from Independence in 1947 till March 21, 2014, the total national debt stood at Rs 53.2 lakh crore. However, in the 12 years since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, the national debt has increased by Rs 218.6 lakh crore. “The Centre’s major achievement is raising loans worth Rs 165 lakh crore. The government should explain how many welfare schemes have been implemented using this borrowed money,” he questioned.
Lakshman said the country pays nearly Rs 13 lakh crore every year as interest on loans, while the principal repayment stands at around Rs 18 lakh crore.
Referring to infrastructure projects, he said that the Mysuru-Bengaluru road was constructed through private investment of nearly Rs 15,000 crore and people have to pay 1 thousand Rupees as toll to travel once, he said.
He further alleged that the Union Budget lacked clarity and failed to address the financial concerns of Karnataka. He pointed out that Karnataka stands second in the country in tax collection after Maharashtra. “Every year, the state contributes nearly Rs 5.26 lakh crore to the Centre through nine types of taxes. As per the 14th Monetary Policy Commission, 41% of this amount should be returned by the Centre. However, instead of receiving Rs 2 lakh crore, Karnataka is getting only about Rs 60,000 crore,” he said.
He said that Uttar Pradesh, which contributes around Rs 6 lakh crore in taxes, receives Rs 2.18 lakh crore in return, while Madhya Pradesh gets Rs 1.11 lakh crore out of its Rs 2.5 lakh crore tax contribution. “Despite contributing significantly, Karnataka is being neglected,” he said.
He said the proposed Bengaluru-Hyderabad train, is not a bullet train but merely an upgraded version of the existing service that may reduce travel time by about an hour.
He further accused the Centre of not providing funds or approvals for major irrigation projects such as Bhadra Upper Bank, Krishna Upper Bank, Mekedatu and Mahadayi. “Even if funds are not provided, it is okay, but the Centre is not granting necessary clearances for these projects also,” he said.
Congress city president R. Murthy, media spokesperson Mahesh, KPCC spokesperson Najma Nazeer, vice president Gopi, youth wing president Abrar, Mahadev, Girish and other leaders were present at the press conference.
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No need for guv: DMK leader Kanimozhi
Chennai (PTI): Senior DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on Friday reiterated her party’s opposition to the office of the governor amid uncertainty over government formation in Tamil Nadu after a fractured election mandate.
Speaking to PTI Videos, Kanimozhi emphasised that the DMK’s demand for the abolition of the governor’s post remained unchanged, especially as questions arise over constitutional propriety during the current political transition.
"Our position that we do not need a governor at all is something the DMK has never changed at any point in time," she said.
When asked about the governor’s actions following the election results—particularly the delay in inviting the leading party to form the government—Kanimozhi pointed to what she described as the "inherent friction" between the office of the governor and the political interests of the state.
She said the current situation "raises a lot of questions" and requires introspection regarding constitutional procedures.
Kanimozhi described the election results as lacking a "clear mandate", which she identified as the primary reason for the prevailing political uncertainty in the state.
"What the people decide is supreme," she said, adding that while the mandate was not decisive, it must be respected.
The Thoothukudi MP attributed the ongoing delays and "many confusions" to the absence of a decisive majority for any single party.
She firmly dismissed rumours about the DMK potentially supporting the AIADMK from outside to help stabilise the government.
She described such reports as mere "speculation" and "rumours".
"We can’t be responding to every rumour," she said, declining to comment on the AIADMK’s claims regarding its numbers to form the government.
The political situation in Tamil Nadu remains fluid as stakeholders await the governor’s next constitutional step in an Assembly where no party has secured a clear majority.
The DMK and AIADMK—both of which suffered significant losses to the TVK—are reportedly exploring tactical manoeuvres to navigate the hung Assembly.
The TVK, with 108 seats and the support of Congress’s five MLAs, is still short of the majority mark. The DMK and AIADMK secured 59 and 47 seats, respectively.
