Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Nov 1: Karnataka Rajyotsava was celebrated in city with fervour and salutations to the state flag in a programme organised by the Dakshina Kannada district administration in Nehru Maidan on Friday, November 1.

District in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao presented the 2024 district-level awards to 59 achievers and 24 distinguished organizations at the program.

District-in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao presented the awards and delivered the Rajyotsava address. He highlighted that despite Karnataka leading in GST collection, the state has not received its due share, resulting in significant financial injustice. "Although Karnataka ranks second in the country in GST collection, there has been a substantial reduction in funds from the Finance Commission. The state no longer has the power to levy taxes as per its needs, and even the compensatory funds have not been provided. Such a situation should not be faced by any state. On this Rajyotsava Day, it is important to remember this," he said, emphasizing that the Karnataka government has challenged this and is standing firm in the interest of the state.

The minister noted that Karnataka has achieved success in population control post-independence, but expressed concern over the imbalance in representation caused by allocating more Lok Sabha seats to Hindi-speaking states with higher populations, while reducing seats for the southern states, including Karnataka. "This has severely impacted the representation of southern India and Karnataka at the central level," he added.

"The government’s goal is to build a prosperous Karnataka, with numerous public welfare schemes already in place. Since the formation of a unified Karnataka, the government has consistently worked to address regional imbalances. Recently, a cabinet meeting in Kalaburagi led to the implementation of several plans and critical development projects for the region’s advancement," he said.

The event was attended by MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, MLAs Vedavyas Kamath and Ivan D'Souza, mayor Manoj Kodikal, deputy commissioner M P Mullai Muhilan, additional deputy commissioner Dr Santosh Kumar, Praveen Kumar Alva, AC Vinayraj, Naveen D'Souza, Shahul Hameed, KSA Dakshina Kannada president M P Shrinath, Sadasiva Ullal, former KSA president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, Karnataka Beary Academy president Umar UH, Stany Alvares, Deviprasad Shetty, Dr Shivaprakash, and other dignitaries.