THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticized the Kerala government for mismanaging finances, accusing them of diverting central government funds.
The Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted that Kerala government is diverting allocated funds from the central government, spending them according to their preferences, favoring certain entities.
She accused the Kerala government of propagating false claims that the Union government hasn’t allocated funds to the state.
Presenting figures on Central transfers, Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized that the Centre has fulfilled all eligible instances of fund transfers to Kerala. She mentioned that any withholding of funds occurred due to the state’s failure to apply within stipulated deadlines, attributing it to the Kerala government’s negligence in submitting necessary reports.
The Minister clarified that all funds for social security pensions were transferred to Kerala last month. However, the state hasn’t applied for the second installment.
Addressing GST compensation, Nirmala Sitharaman stated that Kerala needs to provide accurate reports through the Accountant General (AG) to claim compensation.
She highlighted instances where the negligence, extravagance, and nepotism of the Kerala government affected several farmers including KG Prasad, leading him into a debt trap.
The minister expressed concerns about the Kerala government’s lack of interest in paddy procurement, causing issues in ration distribution and delayed payments to farmers.
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