<p>Thiruvananthapuram: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's remarks on Kerala's practice of "nokkukooli" (gawking wages) on Tuesday evoked sharp reactions from state Labour Minister V Sivankutty, who labelled it as "misleading" and an "insult" to the state.</p>.<p>He accused the union finance minister of trying to tarnish the image of the state by exaggerating isolated incidents.</p>.<p>"Nokkukooli" has already been banned in the state and the Labour Department has taken strict actions whenever isolated incidents were reported, he pointed out in a statement.</p>.Row over Kerala CM's breakfast meeting with Sitharaman; FM says CPI(M) are 'nookukoolis'.<p>"Kerala is the state which has taken a stand against undesirable practices like nokkukooli through a government order. Kerala has a better work environment than BJP-ruled states," Sivankutty said.</p>.<p>Listing various employee-friendly steps being taken in the state, he said Kerala is the first state in the country to formulate and implement a labour policy.</p>.<p>The current views of the Union Finance Minister are filled with "anti-communism" and "anti-Kerala sentiments", he alleged, adding that these comments arise from that mindset.</p>.<p>He also invited Sitharaman to Kerala to understand the employment situation in the southern state.</p>.<p>She is part of a government that is trying to impose "anti-labour codes" upon Kerala, Sivankutty charged.</p>.<p>Sitharaman made the remarks regarding "nokkukooli" during her address in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. </p>
<p>Thiruvananthapuram: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's remarks on Kerala's practice of "nokkukooli" (gawking wages) on Tuesday evoked sharp reactions from state Labour Minister V Sivankutty, who labelled it as "misleading" and an "insult" to the state.</p>.<p>He accused the union finance minister of trying to tarnish the image of the state by exaggerating isolated incidents.</p>.<p>"Nokkukooli" has already been banned in the state and the Labour Department has taken strict actions whenever isolated incidents were reported, he pointed out in a statement.</p>.Row over Kerala CM's breakfast meeting with Sitharaman; FM says CPI(M) are 'nookukoolis'.<p>"Kerala is the state which has taken a stand against undesirable practices like nokkukooli through a government order. Kerala has a better work environment than BJP-ruled states," Sivankutty said.</p>.<p>Listing various employee-friendly steps being taken in the state, he said Kerala is the first state in the country to formulate and implement a labour policy.</p>.<p>The current views of the Union Finance Minister are filled with "anti-communism" and "anti-Kerala sentiments", he alleged, adding that these comments arise from that mindset.</p>.<p>He also invited Sitharaman to Kerala to understand the employment situation in the southern state.</p>.<p>She is part of a government that is trying to impose "anti-labour codes" upon Kerala, Sivankutty charged.</p>.<p>Sitharaman made the remarks regarding "nokkukooli" during her address in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. </p>