Centre trying to create economic crisis in Kerala; Cong a spectator: CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday accused the BJP-ruled Center of trying to destroy the federal structure and create an economic crisis in the southern state through its various policies and blamed the Congress-led UDF of being a silent spectator of the same thing.

Alleging neglect and discrimination against Kerala by the central government, Vijayan said it was met with this treatment despite making unprecedented gains in tax collection, domestic manufacturing and infrastructure development.

Speaking at the Nava Kerala Sadas in Uduma constituency here in the evening, the CM said the Union government through its various policies was “financially strangling the Left government” since it came to power in 2016.

“At the same time, the Congress and the UDF opposition led by it were a silent spectator of this discrimination. Why this hesitation in speaking out against the Centre’s actions that are against the state and its people?” he asked as he addressed a gathering of thousands.

People came forward in large numbers to air their complaints and grievances before the CM and his cabinet colleagues as part of the Nava Kerala Sadas outreach programme.

During his speech, Vijayan highlighted the various projects such as the expansion of national highways and the implementation of the IGL gas pipeline, which he said had not taken off during the earlier UDF regime and were made possible only after the Left government took over power came.

Earlier in the day, too, at a press conference, the CM blamed the Center for the economic crisis in the state and accused the UDF opposition of using it as an opportunity to destroy the Left government’s popularity.

Vijayan said the outreach program aims to make people see these ‘hidden realities’ and also address their problems.

He says that a day ago, 1,908 complaints were received at the counters set up for this purpose and that action will be taken.

Referring to the large number of people who gathered for the program a day ago and on Sunday, he said there were a large number of women among them.

The CM said the presence of women in large numbers indicates the effect of the measures taken by the government to protect them.

He also referred to the recent verdict in the Aluva rape and murder case and said the speedy investigation, trial and maximum sentence imposed on the suspect indicated that any form of violence against children was unacceptable and would be dealt with mercilessly.

One hundred and ten days after a minor girl was brutally raped and murdered in Aluva in Kerala, a special court had on November 14 sentenced a migrant worker to death in the case.

Vijayan said that since coming to power, the government has taken strong measures to ensure safety of women and children and this was evident in the participation of women in the Nava Kerala Sadas held at Paivalike here a day ago.

Congress has criticized the outreach program by treating it as a platform for political discussions and by denouncing the opposition at the state’s expense.

The outreach program will end on December 23 in Vattiyoorkavu constituency in Thiruvananthapuram.