THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday sought the support of the Kerala MPs regarding the K-Rail project. He was speaking at a meeting of the MPs ahead of the winter session of the parliament.

The Chief Minister, who said that the K-Rail project was a major project for the future of the state, added that the government will clear doubts raised by some regarding the project. "K-Rail is an inevitable project for the state. The government will clear the doubts of some people regarding the project that will play an important role in the development of the state," the CM said.

The CM said that the MPs should intervene in such a way that the development and welfare activities of the state can be carried forward in a good manner. "There is a continuous encroachment on the powers of the states. The Centre is not considering the interests of the state. It is hindering development and welfare activities by limiting the right of the states over the general economic resources of the country. There are situations where democracy itself is adversely affected. Even the states ruled by the NDA are raising such issues," Vijayan said.

The CM claimed that the Union Government took the responsibility of GST arrears and vaccination as a result of ''our joint efforts'' and accused the Centre of not considering the interest of Kerala on the issue of food grains, rubber price, coastal protection and expatriate rehabilitation -- the areas directly responsible to the Centre. He said the states should be provided with GST compensation after July 2022 and for the next five years. Vijayan also urged the MPs to intervene to get Kerala the Rs 2,412 crore as Sectoral Specific Grant and Rs 1,100 crore as State Specific Grant recommended by the 15th Finance Commission.

He said the co-operation of the Centre and the state in development activities, especially in the field of infrastructure, is very important. ''There is cooperation in some areas. The MPs should try to expand it'', Vijayan said.