Kerala Governor avoided few portions of the policy address in the House: CM Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday accused Governor Rajendra Arlekar of making modifications in the government's policy address that was delivered in the Assembly during the day.

After the Governor completed his policy address and left the house, the Chief Minister said that the Governor omitted some portions against the Centre in the policy address that was approved by the cabinet.

"As per the Constitution the policy address approved by the Cabinet will prevail," Vijayan added.

Speaker A N Shamneer also said that the entire portion of the policy address approved by the Cabinet would be treated as read.

The portions the Governor omitted pertained to the financial crunches caused to the state allegedly by the centre and the delay in getting Governor's nod for bills passed by the assembly.

Following are the portions that the Governor omitted: "Despite these social and institutional achievements, Kerala continues to face severe fiscal stress arising from a series of adverse Union Government actions that undermine the constitutional principles of fiscal federalism."

"Bills passed by State legislatures have remained pending for prolonged periods. My Government has approached the Supreme Court on these issues, which have been referred to a Constitution bench."

However, other portions accusing the centre for restrictions on borrowing limits and tax share were read out by the Governor.

The Governor also said that the recent amendment to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme by transforming it as VB-GRAM G is a setback for Kerala. The assistance from the centre has come down from 100 to 60 percent and there are issues regarding the demand-based nature of the earlier programme, the Governor said.

The around two hour long policy address also highlighted the state government's achievements and claims like extreme poverty eradication.

Opposition leader V D Satheesan said that there could be deliberate attempts to create an impression of Governor-government rift to deviate attention from other issues in which the government is on the defensive.