BJP flays Kerala govt over fund blockade claim, challenges CM to debate performance
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday accused the Kerala government of “challenging the common sense of people” by blaming the Centre for an alleged blockade of funds.
Chandrasekhar held a press conference in the wake of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and LDF leaders holding a day-long protest at the Martyrs Memorial in Palayam here, alleging a financial blockade by the central government against the state.
Chandrasekhar said the Pinarayi Vijayan-led CPI(M) government has been in power for nearly 10 years and should present a report card of its performance.
“A government that has ruled for 10 years should explain what it has done for the people. That is the basic courtesy in a democracy,” he said.
He alleged that the CPI(M)-led government has been trying to divert public attention for several years, and that its recent claims of the Centre's denial of funds surfaced only after its defeat in local body elections and with Assembly polls approaching.
“A government in power for a decade should present a report card of what it has done for the people. To say now that nothing could be done because the Centre did not give funds is challenging the common sense of the people,” he said.
Chandrasekhar invited the Chief Minister for a public debate on the government’s performance, including the state’s economic condition.
He claimed that during the Congress-led UPA rule at the Centre between 2004 and 2014, Kerala received Rs 72,000 crore, while under the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, the state has received Rs 3.2 lakh crore.
“When UPA was in power, Pinarayi Vijayan never protested. Why complain now after receiving four times more funds?” he asked.
According to him, Kerala’s debt stood at Rs 1.04 lakh crore when Vijayan became Chief Minister in 2016 and has now crossed Rs 5 lakh crore.
“After central assistance and borrowings over the last 10 years, the government has received nearly Rs 7 lakh crore. If we include revenue receipts, it goes beyond Rs 10 lakh crore. What is the outcome? Kerala has the highest unemployment rate in the country, nearly 30 per cent, and the highest inflation.”
He further claimed that the state government has not implemented central schemes worth Rs 16,000 crore, citing CAG reports.
“Even today, 54 lakh houses do not have a water supply. The government has no money to pay Rs 6,000 crore to contractors. About 5.5 lakh people are homeless and 45,000 families live in colonies,” he said.
Accusing the CM of building a “fort of lies”, Chandrasekhar said the BJP would dismantle it with facts and evidence.
“The last 10 years have been a decade of Kerala’s decline,” he said, repeating Vijayan’s 2014 remark against a former UDF Chief Minister and adding, “If you have any shame, please resign.”
Responding to a query on Kerala’s demand for more central funds, Chandrasekhar said it was only a “half-truth”.
“The Centre has clearly said funds are released based on a pattern. Utilisation certificates must be submitted and audits conducted,” he said, alleging that the audit of Supplyco has not been carried out for the past five years.
“They neither conduct audits nor submit utilisation certificates. Is the Centre a bank of comrades?” he asked, alleging diversion of funds.
Chandrasekhar claimed that Kerala has one of the highest debt burdens in the country, with around 92 per cent of the budget being spent on debt servicing and interest payments.
“Only eight per cent is left for development and welfare. This burden will be passed on to future generations,” he said, calling the state’s borrowing pattern a sign of “extreme incompetence”.
He also alleged that nearly 95 per cent of development work in Kerala is being carried out with central assistance and said the BJP plans to hold open discussions on the issue over the next 90 days.
Chandrasekhar further charged the UDF and LDF with "diverting attention from real issues" with the sexual assault case involving expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil.
“Why was he arrested only now? Why was there a delay in registering the FIR? Both CPI(M) and Congress are playing politics to divert public attention,” he alleged.
He said Mamkootathil should have been booked and arrested four months ago and that no action was taken even after his expulsion from the Congress.
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Satyagraha sparks political storm in Kerala as CM accuses Centre of financial squeeze
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala saw a heated political showdown on Monday as state ministers led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to the streets with a Satyagraha, accusing the BJP-led Centre of squeezing the state financially.
What followed was a war of words, with the BJP hitting back hard and the Congress keeping its distance, turning the issue into a three-cornered political battle.
Standing before party leaders, ministers and supporters at the Martyrs' Column in Palayam here, Vijayan said Kerala had been pushed into an "extraordinary struggle" to protect its rights.
He told the gathering that the Centre was trying to "snatch away" what the Constitution had guaranteed to the states.
According to him, this was not just about money, but about dignity, federalism and democracy.
"This is a struggle for the survival of this land and its people. Believing that all authority rests in their hands, the rulers at the Centre are arbitrarily usurping our rights," Vijayan said, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the funds given to the state during the NDA period were more than three times higher than what it received during the Congress-led UPA period.
"The present situation has compelled us to take to struggle in order to protect those rights. This is an extraordinary and grave circumstance," the veteran CPI(M) leader said.
He said the Union government was treating Kerala with bias and political vengeance.
The cuts in grants and borrowing limits, he claimed, were meant to choke the state financially.
Vijayan pointed out that Kerala was supposed to get Rs 12,000 crore between January and March, but was denied Rs 5,900 crore without any clear reason. This, he said, had made it difficult for the government to pay bills and run welfare schemes smoothly.
The CM also accused the Union government of centralising power and using money to reward states ruled by friendly parties while punishing opposition-ruled states like Kerala.
He reminded the people of how Kerala was denied permission to receive foreign aid during the 2018 floods and how support was lacking after the Wayanad landslide. These were, Vijayan said, clear examples of discrimination.
Rejecting claims of financial mismanagement, he said the state had continued to invest in welfare, development and jobs despite financial pressure.
Taking on Amit Shah's claim that Kerala received more funds under the Modi government, Vijayan said tax devolution was not a gift, but a constitutional right. He accused the Centre of interfering with the Finance Commission and quoted NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam.
"Subrahmanyam, who is currently serving as the CEO of NITI Aayog, has stated that soon after becoming Prime Minister in 2014, Narendra Modi exerted pressure on the Finance Commission to reduce the tax share of states," he said.
The chief minister said the Finance Commission had recommended 42 per cent for states and that there was an attempt to cut it to 33 per cent. He added that the Prime Minister had not denied this claim.
"When Amit Shah cites figures, he must also clarify these facts. Perhaps realising that none of this can be defended, he has now resorted to dreaming about a distant future," he said.
Calling for wider protests, Vijayan said Kerala would fight legally and politically to protect federalism and ensure its rightful share. He also criticised the Congress-led UDF for not standing with the state at this crucial time.
But the BJP hit back almost immediately. State BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the Left government was trying to fool the public.
He said a government that had ruled for nearly 10 years had no excuse to shift blame.
"A government that has ruled for 10 years should explain what it has done for the people. That is the basic courtesy in a democracy," Chandrasekhar told a press conference here.
He challenged Vijayan to a public debate on governance and finances. He claimed that Kerala received Rs 72,000 crore during UPA rule, but Rs 3.2 lakh crore under the NDA.
He argued that nearly Rs 7 lakh crore had come through central assistance and borrowings in the last decade, and over Rs 10 lakh crore including revenue receipts.
Chandrasekhar said central schemes worth Rs 16,000 crore were not implemented and pointed to water shortages, unpaid contractors and homelessness.
Meanwhile, the Congress-led UDF chose not to join the protest.
Opposition leader V D Satheesan said his party would not be part of what he called political drama by the LDF.
He alleged an "unholy understanding" between the CPI(M) and the BJP and said the Left was pretending to fight the Centre while quietly supporting its policies.
"If we participate in such protests, we too will lose credibility," he said.
Later in a post on X, Vijayan said Kerala's share in tax devolution, grants and scheme funds have been reduced.
"We have suffered a total revenue loss of Rs 57,000 crores due to the Union Government’s financial discrimination against us."
He said the state was merely demanding what is rightfully owed to it, not any handout from the Union Government.
"Kerala stands firm in its resolve and will resist every attempt to subvert states' constitutional rights," Vijayan said.
