THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Lashing out at the central government for ignoring Kerala's needs in the union budget, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the Centre was behaving in such a way that Kerala was not a part of India.

"The Centre did not accept Kerala's request for a special economic package. It did not even hold a discussion regarding the Palakkad coach factory. It did not take a stand on the GST compensation issue in favour of the state. The central allocation for Kerala was inadequate. The union budget would not benefit the state's development," Kodiyeri said. Kodiyeri also said that the CPM would organise an agitation against the central government.

Kodiyeri demanded that the state MPs and the BJP state leadership put pressure on the Centre to change its stand. He pointed out that the allegation that the Centre had denied approval for the K-Rail was not factually correct.

Kodiyeri said that the state government was ready to discuss the SilverLine issue with everyone and that the Congress and the BJP should change their stand. He also said that there will be serious transportation issues if Vande Bharat comes to Kerala.

Responding to the Lokayukta controversy, Kodiyeri said that KT Jaleel's opinion on the Lokayukta issue was his own and that the CPM had not made any allegations against the Lokayukta. He said that the CPI's opposition to the SilverLine and Lokayukta issues would be discussed by the Front in a bilateral manner.