The Congress-led UDF has decided to turn down the invitation extended by the ruling LDF to a joint protest in New Delhi against the Centre’s alleged financial embargo on Kerala.
The decision to boycott the protest was taken at a meeting of the UDF leadership held on Thursday. The Opposition leader has been assigned to convey the UDF’s decision to the chief minister.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had invited Leader of the Opposition V D. Satheesan and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) general secretary P K Kunhalikutty to join him and the rest of his Cabinet and Left Democratic Front (LDF) legislators in a protest to be held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on February 8.
The ruling CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Tuesday announced that the front will stage a protest in New Delhi on February 8 under the leadership of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Central government’s alleged neglect towards the state.
Announcing the decision, LDF convenor EP Jayarajan said the Central government is deliberately trying to destroy the popularity of the Left government. He stated that the development project in Kerala has come to a standstill as the Central government has refused to disburse funds to Kerala.
According to state government sources, the sharp reduction in the borrowing cap has worsened the state’s financial problems and it would have an additional impact on the payment of social welfare pensions.
While the state government says the Central government’s decisions, especially the drastic cut in borrowing limit and grants, have led to the current financial crisis, the union Finance Minister accused the Kerala government of propagating false claims that the Union government hasn’t allocated funds to the state.