Maharashtra given permission to receive foreign aid that was once denied to Kerala; Kerala and BJP-ruled states protest

NEW DELHI: The central government, which denied permission to Kerala to receive foreign aid to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund during the 2018 floods, has given permission for Maharashtra. There are widespread protests over this move. Kerala says this is double standards. States ruled by opposition parties, including Kerala, have protested against the permission given to only BJP-ruled Maharashtra to receive foreign funds.

Maharashtra has been allowed to receive foreign contributions to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The permission has been given to the Bombay Public Trust, formed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as its chairman. With this, Maharashtra has become the only state in India that can receive foreign assistance under the FCRA, in addition to the funds from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

During the 2018 floods, the Centre had blocked the UAE's offer of Rs 700 crore to Kerala. Countries like Qatar, Maldives and Thailand had also offered assistance to Kerala. The explanation given by the Central Government at that time was that the country would face the flood disaster together and that it was shameful to extend a helping hand to foreign countries.

Lack of Culture: M.A. Baby

CPM General Secretary MA Baby said that the central government's decision to grant permission to the Maharashtra government, which was previously denied to Kerala, is a lack of culture. He also accused that this was not the first time the central government discriminated against Kerala and non-BJP states. CPI Rajya Sabha leader P Santosh Kumar said that the central government should not discriminate in its approach towards the states and that its neglect of Kerala cannot be accepted.