Centre is isolating Kerala: Chief Minister

KOZHIKODE: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the central government was isolating Kerala by looking at it through special eyes.

"We have a Union Finance Minister who is ready to come to Kerala and say that giving welfare pension to 62 lakh people at Rs 1,600 each is squandering," the Chief Minister said while speaking at the District Concluding Conference of Nava Kerala Sadas held at Kozhikode beach.

"The central government does not like Kerala's alternative policy. There is a policy difference between the Left government in Kerala and the central government which is implementing the RSS agenda. The Left cannot adjust to policies that implement the Sangh Parivar agenda. This is also a cause of hostility. Development should be implemented jointly by central, state and local governments. However, the Centre is trying to usurp the powers of the state. The Centre is adopting positions that affect the state negatively. It is suffocating Kerala economically. This is also due to the policies taken by the Left, including in the case of the Citizenship Amendment Bill. The central government did not like the state's willingness to take over public sector institutions at a time when such institutions were being privatized. The lack of support from the Centre is creating problems for the state. The Centre is not allowing the state various projects that it deserves," the CM said.

"When Kerala faced the biggest flood of the century, the central government denied the helping hand extended by other countries and did not provide the necessary assistance. It also attempted to force the state to repay the money for the special assistance it provided. The purpose of Nava Kerala Sadas is to tell people all these things," he added.

The Chief Minister also alleged that although the government expected the UDF to cooperate in the activities for the development of the state, there was no cooperation from the opposition. Minister Ahamed Devarkovil presided over the function. Ministers MB Rajesh, GR Anil and Roshy Augustine spoke. Thottathil Raveendran MLA delivered the welcome speech.