THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that central funds are being provided to Kerala on time and that the information that the centre is withholding funds is false propaganda.

She was inaugurating the loan fair organized by Indian Overseas Bank and Canara Bank at Mamam ground in Attingal. The minister said that the media should record what she said and convey it to the people.

The Finance Department of Kerala was asked twice to submit a proposal for central allocation but they did not respond. How can the center make payment if we don't get it? GST compensation can be paid only after submitting the account through AG.

There is false propaganda in the state regarding central funds. The propaganda about non-payment of widow and old age pensions is false. All states are paid correctly. All applications till October have been paid. No application has been received since then. 6214 crores were sanctioned for pension in October. Kerala is changing the names of projects after getting central allocation.

State responsible for farmer suicides

The state is responsible for farmers' suicides. The entire amount of procured paddy is to be paid by the state government. When Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister, it was said that if the government gave 100 rupees to the farmer, he would get only 15 rupees. Modi govt gives money to farmers through banks, with no middlemen. The farmer is getting the exact amount. A loan of 6015 crores has been sanctioned to the state. Out of this, 1103 crores are for agriculture and farmers and 995 crores are for education and housing loans, Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Loan fair of crores: V Muraleedharan

The Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in the introductory speech that the Center is run by a government that will ensure the financial security of Kerala. When the Chief Minister is accusing the Center is trying to destroy the financial condition of the state in the northern tip of Kerala, a loan fair of crores is taking place in the southern tip. Small entrepreneurs are the ones who determine the future of Kerala's economy. He said that no other government in the center has given them so much support.

The Union Finance Minister distributed the loans to the beneficiaries.

Union Finance Secretary Vivek Joshi, IOB Bank CEO Ajayakumar Srivastava, Canara Bank MD Satyanarayana Raju, NABARD Chairman KB Shaji and others were present.