Kozhikode, Nov 27 – Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday accused Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of making “baseless” allegations that his government either did not submit a detailed proposal or failed to respond to queries about funds allocated to the state.
Addressing a gathering as part of his government’s mass outreach programme “Nava Kerala sadassu” at Thiruvambadi here, Vijayan said the Centre has given funds for only a few items as Central assistance. This included “very small contribution” towards the welfare pension.
He said the state government delegates met the Prime minister on several occasions and demanded the dues of the State. State Finance Minister Balagopal met Sitharaman, last October to discuss the matters. But Sitarama “hid” all these issues before the people of Kerala and commented “baselessly” at a public function in Attingal.
VIjayan said he had also met Prime Minister Modi and conveyed the demands of the state.
He criticised the opposition MPs belonging to Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) for not cooperating with the state govenrment in raising its demands before the Union government so far.
However, the Left MPs from Kerala met the Prime Minister and submitted the petition for allocating the necessary funds to the state.
Vijayan was responding to the Union Finance Minister’s comments in a public function at Attingal, that the Kerala Government had not provided a detailed proposal or not responded to the Centre’s inquiry regarding the funds allocated to the state.
Sitharaman was countering accusations by the state government that the Centre was not releasing funds under various categories to Kerala
