CPM demands apology from K C Venugopal for calling welfare pension a bribe

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM has demanded that AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal should apologise for his remark that the welfare pension scheme has been converted into a form of bribery. In a statement, the CPM said that calling the welfare pension — which the government provides as crucial support for the daily sustenance of 62 lakh families in Kerala — a "bribe" is a challenge to ordinary people.

'The LDF government is a government that has allocated Rs 72,000 crore solely for welfare pensions over the last nine years. Despite the financial constraints resulting from central government restrictions, the state government has consistently tried to ensure pensions reach the homes of the underprivileged.

The people of Kerala have not forgotten the statements made by Congress leaders when pension disbursement was delayed during certain months due to financial challenges. Even when Kerala was being financially strangled— by withholding its rightful share of funds and including KIIFB and other projects within the state's borrowing limits — neither Congress leaders nor the opposition criticised the central government. Instead, they seemed to support this squeeze,' the CPM alleged.