Centre attacking federal system: Kerala Min

PNS|Vijayawada

Kerala Minister for Local Self-Governments and Excise MB Rajesh has alleged that the Central government is attacking State governments and the Federal system by using governors as weapons. “The Kerala government is implementing alternative policies to those implemented by the BJP-led Central government,” he said.

MB Rajesh came to Vijayawada to attend a seminar and given the Makineni Basava Punnaiah memorial lecture. On Tuesday, he addressed the media along with CPM State secretary V Srinivasa Rao at the Balotsav Bhavan in Vijayawada.Speaking on the occasion, the Kerala minister said that the Central government was creating financial hurdles for various State governments by not allotting funds. The Central government is commanding the States, he alleged. The Union government has cut Rs. 30,000 crore to Kerala which should have been given to the State, he said.He further said that there were a revenue deficit of Rs. 6,770 crore and GST compensation of Rs.10,000 crore. Tax share was slashed from 2.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent, which resulted in the Kerala government losing Rs.12,500 crore in income from the Central government, he said.

In this situation, the Kerala State government led by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is focusing on alternative policies, following steps towards economic development and implementing social welfare schemes in a bigger way.

“Kerala is ranked first in GSDP and the State aims to create two million knowledge-based jobs in the next four years. The government has spent Rs.70,000 crore for the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund, of which Rs.3,000 was allotted to education. Kerala also tops the School Quality Index given by Niti Ayog,” he said.

Further, he said his government is focusing on the development of higher education sector, enhancing facilities in universities and strengthening the academic policies. The LDF government is giving utmost prominence to education and public health, he said. Government hospitals are providing super speciality health services, he said.

He flayed the Centre for not allowing the State government to take debts. “Industries have increased in Kerala, and at the same time, the Central government has decided to privatise the Public Sector Undertakings. However, the Kerala State government participated in the auction and ran those industries in a cooperative system,” he said. CM Jagan should get assurance from Modi CPM State secretary V Srinivasa Rao has demanded that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy should get assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement State bifurcation promises.