Bengaluru: Former MP DK Suresh has criticized the Central government for failing to release the grants due to Karnataka, pointing out sharply that all states had equal status in the country, not just Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing reporters at his residence in Sadashivanagar on Saturday, Suresh said that the negligent attitude of the Centre towards state while imposing regulations was proving a danger to the unity of the nation. “The Centre should be strengthening the nation by providing states the facilities they need, rather than only imposing rules on them, which is weakening our country,” he opined.

Suresh, who commented on the tax being paid by Karnataka and other South Indian states, said that, although the North Indian states paid much lesser tax, the Centre continued to support them for development of the states. This was greatly hindering the progress of the South Indian states, which were denied their shares in the grants, he added.

When asked about the imposition of Hindi, the former Congress MP said that he opposed it as it would also weaken the states.

Referring to census, Suresh said that he continued to support a redistribution of grants and reformation of constituencies, based on population. “We expect the Centre to conduct a census this year, but the formation of constituencies based on population will work completely in favour of North India and ignore the South Indian states,” he said and stressed on the need for South Indian states to fight in unity against the system.

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Mumbai, May 10 (PTI): National award-winning makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad, known for his work in movies such as "83", “Uri: The Surgical Strike” and "Ponniyin Selvan", died on Saturday here at a hospital, his younger brother said. He was 61.

“He was hospitalised at Hiranandani Hospital in Powai three days ago due to BP issues. He passed away today at around 8:30 am. His BP was going low, and we were not able to revive him.

"He was quite well when he was admitted. We were not expecting that he would pass away so soon,” Dr Prasanna Paranjpe, Gaikwad’s younger brother, told PTI.

Gaikwad’s work spans across Hindi, Marathi, and South Indian films such as “83”, “Shakuntala Devi”, “Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior”, “Sanju”, “Dangal”, “PK”, “3 Idiots”, “Omkara”, “Balgandharva”, “Katyar Kaljat Ghusali”, “Ponniyin Selvan”, and “O Kadhal Kanmani”.

He won the National Award for best makeup artist in 2012 for Vidya Balan-starrer "Dirty Picture", followed by another win for Bengali movie "Jaatishwar" in 2014.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde condoled his death in a post on X, saying he brought life into characters with his artistry.

“National Award-winning, renowned makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad passed away today, leaving us in sorrow. With his departure, we have lost a magician who breathed life into characters on screen through his artistry in makeup.

"His mastery lay in effortlessly turning the impossible into reality, bringing to life the characters envisioned by directors through his makeup artistry,” he wrote.

Gaikwad's last rites will be performed at Shivaji Park crematorium in Dadar.