Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has lambasted the Union Budget, describing it as a political document expressing the Union Government’s anti-Kerala attitude.

The State has asked for a special economic package of ₹24,000 crore in addition to the Wayanad package to rehabilitate the landslide-affected people. The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has completely ignored the State’s demands.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the Centre ignoring the State’s request for a special package for the Vizhinjam International Container Terminal Project. The budget has allocated nearly ₹25 lakh crore for the states. The share of Kerala is less than ₹40,000 crore. This is total discrimination, the Chief Minister said and called for a protest against the attitude of the Union Government.

Leader of Opposition, V.D.Satheesan, also criticised the budget for denying the landslide rehabilitation package that hit Wayanad. He alleged that the proposals in the budget are part of a political agenda and take advantage of it.

He said the budget proposals did not mention Kerala’s long-pending demand to set up the All India Institute of Medical Sciences or equivalent facility, special packages for industry and agriculture sectors, issues connected with climate change, etc.

Published on February 1, 2025