THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Minister V Muraleedharan on Saturday mocked the Nava Kerala Sadas, the public outreach programme of the state government. Speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram, V Muraleedharan said that the journey of the Chief Minister and Minister indicates that it is not a Nava Kerala Sadas but a Naduvazhi Sadas.

Muraleedharan said that the LDF government has started a journey reminiscent of the journey taken up by feudal elites to meet the people. Muraleedharan also responded to CPM leader AK Balan's words that lakhs of people would come to see the bus if it is kept in the museum after it completes its lifespan of 15 years. He joked that after the ongoing trip, it wouldn't be the bus, but the Communist Party that would be going to the museum.

"Those who are saying that they are unable to pay the pension of Rs 1600 are wasting one and a half crores. Crores are being spent on travel and security. The Chief Minister is challenging the farmers and those who haven't received welfare pensions," Muraleedharan said.

"People don't know what all luxuries are there inside the bus. People will assess this government's show-off in times of economic crisis. Let the government tell us what benefits have come from the PR exercise done earlier by minister Mohammed Riyas, in the name of the public outreach programme. Let the LDF government think about how this Navuvazhi journey will be written down in history," he added.