Published Feb 08, 2024 | 4:16 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 08, 2024 | 4:16 PM
NSUI activists smear black paint on FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s nameplate at her Karnataka office. (Screengrab)
The activists of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) — the students outfit of the Congress — on Thursday, 8 February, smeared the nameplate of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with black paint at her office in Bengaluru.
The nameplate was smeared by the activists alleging injustice to Karnataka in the release of Central funds.
Sitharaman is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka.
The protest comes a day after Congress government led by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah led a day-long strike in Delhi alleging fiscal injustice to the State by Union government. Later on Wednesday evening, Sitharaman held a press conference in Delhi to reject Siddaramaiah’s allegations. Instead, the Finance Minister alleged that Karnataka’s allegation of discrimination against Union government was due to “separatist mindset”.
The NSUI activists stormed into the offices of Rajya Sabha members on Millers Road and applied black paint on the nameplate.
Policemen on duty there found themselves helpless as a large number of NSUI activists mobbed the office and started raising slogans. The activists were later driven out.
NSUI state president Kirthi Ganesh said the demonstration was staged in protest against the injustice to Karnataka by the Union Government in releasing Central grants.
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