Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Thiruvananthapuram parliamentary constituency election convention for NDA candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar on March 28 in Thiruvananthapuram. Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister said that Kerala became an economically backward State due to the indiscipline in expenditure. The State has gone to the rock bottom of the debt trap. Now, the people of Kerala have to shoulder the burden of this heavy debt. It is no fault of the people but the grave lapses of the LDF and UDF governments who ruled the State one after another.
Nirmala Sitaraman ridiculed the ‘Kerala Model’ pet phrase, which both LDF and UDF have often boasted about. However, Kerala’s education and health sectors and urban and rural developments are much below the national average. The Kerala youths constitute an excellent human resource. However, the State fails to attract investments and business initiatives from investors. The plight of the Kerala youths is pathetic.
When we talk about the State’s financial condition, the permanent complaint is about the lack of Central aid to Kerala. But since PM Modiji took over in 2014, the Centre has given Rs 1.58 lakh crores to the State until March 2024. In 2021, the Centre gave Kerala Rs 2224 cr as an interest-free loan, sans the recommendations of the Finance Commission. They do not say anything about what Modi gave. Still, the state government keeps on telling the utter lie that the Centre does not give anything.
FM said the State is in a total mess due to corruption, inefficiency and indiscipline. It is impossible to pay wages and pensions without a loan. She referred to the murders taking place in the State, including the murder of J.S. Siddhardh, a second-year student of (Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University {KVASU}), Pookkode, Wayanad, etc. etc., one by one. She condemned the LDF government in sharp language. Modi has given to the people what he had promised. He does not mix party politics in it.
Drinking water was given to all. The Modi regime fights the World Trade Organisation for the traditional fishermen community. Modi embraces all human communities. Because of this confidence, people are going to vote Modi into power again. Thiruvananthapuram’s participation is essential in it. No investments come to Kerala. Kitex went to Telengana. Industrialists are under threat in Kerala.
The leaders here do not think of the country’s benefit. Their aim is confined to their gains. The unemployment rate is larger than the national average. Kerala witnesses a series of corruption. Gold smuggling, Life Mission, etc., are some of them. FM said that support from Thiruvananthapuram is needed for Modi’s return to power.
The Finance Minister said Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s victory would ensure the people’s welfare. Then, the Finance Minister released the election song for the candidate’s publicity.
A significant part of the Minister’s Speech was in Malayalam. Kerala is always for borrowing sprees. The Centre gave Rs 6,000 in November 2024 alone. Kerala is no one among the hard-pressed states. Institutions like KIIFB do not have revenue; how do they pack back the debts?
She alleged that the cases registered by Kerala Police in connection with the malpractices in the cooperative banking sector are always late and delayed.
BJP district president Adv. V V Rajesh, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Vasantha Rao, P.K. Krishnadas, O. Rajagopal, K. Raman Pillai, Kummanam Rajasekharan, M.S. Kumar, former Ambassador T P Sreenivasan, Chenkal Rajasekharan Nair, Vishnupuram Chandrasekharan, Peroorkata Harikumar, J R Padmakumar, Padmaja Venugopal, Padmini Thomas and Thampanoor Satheesh were on the dais.
Earlier, FM said no special privilege exists for anyone before the law. While talking to Janam on the Malayalam TV channel, the Minister said no one can expect special privilege before the law. The law does not undergo any changes during the election period. FM was reacting to the malicious propaganda against ED investigations (during the election period).
Answering a question about whether Democracy is under the shadow of the ED, she replied that no one can expect special privilege. The ED and other investigation agencies have their own methods of operation. It is not possible to take action overnight. The ED moves to action as they get sufficient evidence. Rule and law apply to all.
Whether elections are imminent or not, all are equal before the law. Agencies like CBI were caged parrots during the UPA regime. But now, things are different. What we do have are genuine and transparent investigations. Allegations of delay in enquiry and investigations are merely political. The litigation against Rashtrapati before the Supreme Court is an attempt to insult the Constitution. Only CPM can go to this extent.
FM blasted the CPM—Left Democratic Front government’s allegation that the Centre holds the funds Kerala deserves. Kerala’s share of funds was given on time. Not a single penny was delayed. Nirmala Sitaraman said that Kerala’s financial management lacks discipline and etiquette. Kerala should have given accurate financial information to the Centre on time.
The state government should be able to meet its daily expenses, and tax collection should be efficient. She criticised the KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board). If KIIFB does not have any income, how can it pay the debts back?
FM’s revelations should be viewed against the State Government’s continued litigations for funds and malicious propaganda against the Union Government. She said that it is not the policy of the Union Government to be in favour or against any particular state. Kerala is losing numerous projects thanks to the need for proper finance management. They cannot organise funds even for their daily routines; hence, they fail to pay salaries, welfare pensions, and productive activities.
FM said that the Centre is ready to give guidance in finance management. But the State is not moving in that direction and keeps on criticising the Union government. It is politically motivated. The Union government does not follow any step-motherly attitude towards any state.
Kerala state does not properly account for the central funds it receives or provide a completion certificate; hence, follow-up funds are held up. UGC Rusa Fund is an example. The spend-and-approach reimbursement system is the right one. But Kerala always asks for funds in advance. Kerala asks for these sorts of inappropriate aids.
FM criticised KIIFB also. She explained the reason behind bringing the liabilities of KIIFB under the liabilities of the state government. KIIFB’s financial activities are unlike what the assembly passes and endorses. Therefore, its debts must be treated as the State’s debts. She added that the state government needs to know the volume of debts incurred by KIIFB.
Regarding the BJP candidate in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, the CM said Rajeev Chandrasekhar is familiar with Thiruvananthapuram. He will convert Thiruvananthapuram into a centre of policy formulation. He will change the face of Thiruvananthapuram. Winnability is an important criterion in any election.
FM’s interview and speech have triggered hot discussions in the State regarding the failure of the LDF government in all respects and the volume of central aid the State gets under the Modi regime.
