Kerala faced economic hardships due to Centre's unfavourable policy measures: State Minister
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala experienced economic hardships due to the unfavourable policy measures taken by the central government, State Finance Minister K N Balagopal said on Friday.
Balagopal, who met the media here on the last day of the 2022-23 financial year, said there was a shortage of Rs 40,000 crore in this financial year due to the policies of the Centre.
He also said that despite the adverse situations, Kerala managed to perform well in terms of income and expenditure.
"Everything including salary, pension and loan repayment were paid correctly. The project cost of local bodies is over 96 per cent. Many panchayats have spent 100 per cent of the fund allotted, and the treasuries functioned without any hitch," Balagopal said.
He said judicious financial management helped the state to perform well despite constraints.
"Due to the unfavourable policy measure of the Union government, Kerala experienced huge economic hardships. There was a shortfall of Rs 40,000 crore this financial year due to Centre's policies," he said.
Balagopal said the opposition parties should also raise their voice for Kerala.
"We took a stern stand in (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi's issue in Parliament. Our stand is to protect the democracy and raise our voice when it's in danger. Unfortunately, Kerala's opposition is not raising their voice in favour of the state," Balagopal said.
When asked about UDF observing black day on April 1 to protest against the fuel cess coming in force, he said it is a political protest.
"It's a political move by the opposition. I hope they also raise the issue of high price of LPG in the country. They consider the Left government as their main enemy. The people are watching," Balagopal said.
The finance minister said there was an increase of Rs 12,000 crore in state's own tax revenue.
He said there was an increase of around Rs 23,000 crore in the the tax collected by it on its own in the last two years.
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Murder accused jumps off train to escape police custody in Khandwa
Khandwa/MP (PTI): A man arrested in connection with the murder of a local journalist escaped from police custody by jumping off a train in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa while being taken to Uttar Pradesh on a transit remand, police said on Saturday.
The absconding accused, Jamiruddin Qureshi, is one of the five persons booked for their alleged involvement in the murder of a journalist in Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh on May 13, said assistant sub-inspector Anni Lal of Khandwa Government Railway Police (GRP).
Following the murder, Qureshi fled to Mumbai, and the crime branch of the Thane police apprehended him, he said.
Two UP police personnel were bringing him to Jaunpur on transit remand on May 15 and were travelling on the Gorakhpur Weekly Express, the official said.
The train reached Khandwa station around 2.40 am on May 16, and when the train started leaving the platform, the accused sought permission to go to the toilet, he said.
As the two policemen started taking him to the toilet at the entrance of the coach, the accused jumped off the train, the official said.
The police have lodged a complaint, and a search has been launched for the accused, he said.
