NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Monday lashed out at the Kerala government in connection with the cancellation of the Sabarimala and Sivagiri spiritual circuit projects. Accusing the state government of trying to sabotage the projects, the minister pointed out the Centre had allotted Rs 100 crore for Sabarimala in 2016 while Kerala had spent only Rs 1 crore for the project.

According to Muraleedharan, the state government has made severe lapses in implementing the projects announced by the centre. "Out of Rs 503.83 crore allotted to Kerala by the Union Tourism Ministry during the period between 2015-16 and 2018-19, Kerala had spent only Rs 125 crore," he said during a Facebook live video.

He further stated that the central government decided to cancel the Sivagiri project as the state government made several lapses in implementing the projects despite continuous instructions. He also expressed hope that the tourism ministry might reconsider the decision to cancel the project.