Congress leader Shashi Tharoor voiced apprehensions on Sunday regarding what he termed as the divisive "Hindu-Hindi-Hindustan politics” pursued by the ruling BJP government. Speaking at the 54th-anniversary event of a magazine in Chennai, Tharoor expressed concern about the impact of such politics on the North-South divide, particularly in the context of political disenfranchisement faced by the South and the sense of financial victimization.
Tharoor underscored the importance of maintaining the unity and integrity of India, expressing deep worries about the state of the country's federalism. He criticized the government's decision in 2017 to modify the terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission, stating that it has exacerbated the North-South divide by directing more money from the South to the North. Tharoor emphasized the historical subsidy by the South to the North and highlighted the financial disparities, citing examples of states like Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
Delving into the financial autonomy of states, Tharoor pointed out that Karnataka relies significantly on its own taxes to fund expenses, in contrast to Bihar, which heavily depends on the Union government. Expressing concerns about future political developments, he touched upon the government's plan for delimitation in 2026, raising questions about the potential dominance of Hindi-speaking states and the possibility of making Hindi the national language.
Tharoor stressed the need for a common nationhood that benefits all citizens and urged caution against any threats to the unity and integrity of India. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that all people perceive the common nationhood as a winning proposition for them.
