The Kerala Assembly.
Credit: x/@kerala_assembly
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution urging the Centre to end the 'discrimination' and 'neglect' towards the state.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who moved the resolution listed out instances ranging from reducing the financial allocations and borrowing limits to denial of key proposals like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and high speed rail project.
"By denying the genuine needs of Kerala, the Centre was not only disappointing the state, but also insulting the basic principles of co-operative federalism. The latest Union Budget further aggravates the discrimination and neglect towards Kerala," said the resolution.
The resolution was passed by the house in the absence of members of the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) who boycotted the house earlier during the day as part of the ongoing protest over Sabarimala gold row.
Vijayan said that the state would suffer a loss of Rs 3,800 crore as the Centre replaced Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with VB-G RAM-G Act. Over the last two decades, the State had been seeking a unit of AIIMS. A high speed rail and expansion of the existing rail lines are essential for the state's progress. The Centre was also showing discrimination towards the State in extending assistance for the rehabilitation of those affected by the Wayanad landslide.
The chief minister also said that in 2026-27, the borrowing limits of Kerala was reduced by Rs 5,944 crore. The decision of the finance commission to stop the revenue deficit grants will also seriously affect Kerala as the State had received Rs 53,000 crore during the previous finance commission. Grants for various central schemes were also being denied by the Centre, he said.
Meanwhile, the house witnessed heated argument between the members of the ruling left-front and opposition over the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple gold heist row.
CPI(M) Ministers and MLAs attacked the Congress by referring to Sabarimala gold row accused Unnikrishnan Potti visiting AICC leader Sonia Gandhi as well as by referring to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi having tea with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the day the VB-G RAM G bill was passed.
Congress MLAs countered by referring to a picture of excise minister M B Rajesh, who was a former MP, with BJP leader Anurag Thakur. "Rajesh was having great pride over his friendship with Anurag Thakur, who called for ethnic cleansing in Delhi," Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said.