Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s Leader of Opposition and Senior Congress leader, VD Satheesan, criticized Pinarayi Vijayan for today’s protest in New Delhi against the Central government. He said that the protest is a covert creation by Pinarayi Vijayan to conceal his government’s corruption and extravagance. Satheesan made these remarks while speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram.
VD Satheesan stated that the UDF cannot agree with the narrative that the Center’s neglect is the cause of all the financial crises Kerala is facing. He added that Kerala’s financial crisis is entirely due to the mismanagement, corruption, and extravagance of the Pinarayi government.
Satheesan further claimed that it is a falsehood that Rs 57,800 crore has to be paid by the Central government, suggesting that the Pinarayi government is fabricating stories of central neglect in fund allocation to hide its own mismanagement and corruption. He pointed out that the Kerala government’s allegations against the Central government are inconsistent, with data submitted in various forums not aligning. Satheesan argued that the Kerala government’s claims of receiving Rs 57,800 crore from the central government are inflated.
Satheesan emphasized that the mismanagement in tax administration, corruption, and extravagance of the Kerala government are the primary causes of the financial crisis, an issue previously raised by Congress leaders in the Assembly.
He criticized the Pinarayi government for comparing allocations from the 15th Finance Commission with those from the 10th Finance Commission, suggesting that such a comparison is inappropriate given the time gap between the two commissions. He added that if comparing the 15th Finance Commission with the 14th is acceptable, whereas the 10th Finance Commission came into operation in 1995.
Satheesan further highlighted that the Kerala government has failed to disburse social welfare pensions, salaries, and pensions for retired employees, while infrastructural developments in the state remain lacking due to the government’s administrative failures. Despite this, the Pinarayi government continues to borrow for its extravagant spending, with the Supreme Court also capping Kerala’s borrowing.
Satheesan questioned the purpose of protesting in Delhi against the Central government in this situation. He mocked the Pinarayi government, asking whether it was unaware of the situation regarding fund allocation. Satheesan criticized the decision to stage a protest at Delhi in this situation, describing it as a tactical approach to divert attention from the state government’s mismanagement, corruption, and extravagance.
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