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Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal hit out at the Centre over the Union Budget and said that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made no announcement of any special package for the southern state.
Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, KN Balagopal said, "The first budget of the Modi government (3.0) is totally disappointing for the state. It is not only for the state but for the entire country. We expected that some kind of new measures will be there for more employment. For more economic activity and development." "For farmers, for youth, and for different sectors. We expected that something more would be there. The economy will boost after the elections...that is what we expected," he said. "The budget is for strengthening the NDA coalition...Kerala is only getting 21 percent of the total revenue expenditure of the state, whereas on the other hand, average states in the country are getting around 48-49 percent...There is no special package for Kerala...During campaigning, BJP leaders said if they win a seat, Kerala will benefit. The account is open but Kerala's account is closed...Every state should get their due share...," said KN Balagopal, referring to the BJP winning the first ever Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. On the other hand, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hit out at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, alleging that the budget exhibits a discriminatory attitude towards the states, particularly Kerala. https://x.com/pinarayivijayan/status/1815744376372658615 In a series of posts on X, CM Vijayan said, "The #Budget2024 presented by Finance Minister @nsitharaman exhibits a discriminatory attitude towards the states, particularly Kerala. Our genuine demands for AIIMS, disaster relief packages, and interventions for the tourism sector have been met with deafening silence." CM Vijayan added, "This indifference undermines the aspirations of Keralites and is deeply disheartening. While the budget includes several claims about empowering the nation through effective interventions, it glaringly omits the crucial issue of fiscal empowerment for states. Instead, there are further moves to constrain the finances of states, which poses a significant challenge to our autonomy and development." "This unsympathetic and discriminatory stance must be called out and actively resisted. We stand firm in advocating for the rights and needs of Kerala and demand fair and just consideration," CM Vijayan added in his post. (ANI)
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