Karnataka, Goa crisis will hurt economy: P.Chidambaram

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram Thursday attacked the BJP-ruled government over the situation in Karnataka and Goa, saying they have “gravely damaged” democracy and that the developments will hurt the economy.

The developments in Karnataka and Goa may help the BJP in “advancing their political goals”, but at the “same time they are doing a great disservice to the economic goals of this country”, the former finance minister said while participating in the debate on the Union Budget in Rajya Sabha.

“What we have seen in Karnataka, what we have seen in Goa may appear to be political one-upmanship, but I think it has a very damaging affect on the economy, foreign investors, rating agencies,” he said.  “In the last two days, they have gravely damaged democracy. More such incidents will completely damage the democratic framework of this country,” he said.

The JDS-Congress government in Karnataka is in crisis following spate of resignations of MLAs from the ruling side. Also, 10 of the 15 MLAs of the Congress party in Goa legislative assembly have split and joined the BJP, which is currently ruling the state.