On Sunday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan retaliated against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that the latter was “deliberately trying to belittle” the state with his comments.
According to the chief minister, the state has only been the victim of “neglect and discrimination” on the part of the federal government, and sending a Vande Bharat train won’t change that.
Vijayan said that the prime minister made various claims that were “baseless and devoid of facts” during his political program, Yuvam 2023, recently in the port city of Kochi, citing the reported high unemployment in the state.
He said that “the Prime Minister tried to denigrate Kerala on purpose.” The Kerala Chief Minister provided information on the state government’s efforts to help young people find employment and the appointments made via the public service commission while speaking at an event commemorating the Onchiyam Martyrdom.
He also provided information on other welfare programs that the Left-led government in the state had implemented, such as housing under the Life Mission and pensions for the elderly, and argued that the BJP at the federal level had not kept its election-related commitment to give jobs to young people.
At the Yuvam 2023 conclave, Modi criticized the state’s LDF government for failing to take action to create jobs for young people.
Vijayan further criticized the Modi administration by alleging that it received paid for the food grains that were distributed as aid during the 2018 floods. “We distributed the food grains as if they were free. But the Center later collected payment for it,” the CM said.
According to Vijayan, even Kerala’s portion of taxes was reduced. “This is the kind of discrimination and neglect Kerala has endured at the hands of the Central government,” he remarked. A Vande Bharat train cannot be used to conceal such items in the state.
