THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Minister V Muraleedharan has reacted against Minister P Prasad's statement that the farmers were not paid the money for paddy procurement as the Centre did not pay its dues. Muraleedharan demanded that Minister P Prasad should release the evidence showing that the Centre has not yet paid its dues to the state despite providing the figures for the paddy.

"Don't try to get away by putting the blame on the Centre for anything from Onam kits to rice prices. The Centre does not withhold even a single paisa that Kerala is entitled to. The amount due to the state has been fully paid in accordance with the rules," Muraleedharan said.

"The state is blaming the Centre for any crisis in any sector. Let this capsule of the Chief Minister remain in his hand. On one side, they are saying that there is a crisis and on the other hand, they spend lakhs on a helicopter. Lakhs are being spent on a cabinet representative to speak for Kerala in Delhi. People understand everything. They will answer this. The state government should stop the practice of blaming the central government for its lapses and anti-people actions," Muraleedharan said.