Thiruvananthapuram : The UDF MPs by disagreeing with decision to collectively meet Central authorities for ensuring that Kerala gets its fair share of owings, have in effect betrayed the State, said Finance Minister KN Balagopal. The UDF members of the Parliament are with those putting up financial blockade on Kerala., the minister said.
The MPs too are obliged to ensure Kerala secures the financial approvals and sanctions due to it. By overturning efforts toward this, the UDF MPs are deceiving the public here. The UDF leadership should now answer up. People are interested to know if this is policy of the UDF. Rahul Gandhi is an MP from Kerala as well and is accountable in this regard. Rahul Gandhi too is answerable on this front, the Finance Minister said at press conference held in capital.
Owing to Central moves, the State is bound to have a deficit of Rs 40,000 crore this fiscal year. Revenue deficit, grant and GST compensation are being reduced to nothing. At the meeting of MPs from Kerala, it was decided to present these issues with Central authorities collectively. The first agenda in the meeting chaired by Chief Minister was that of Centre’s financial dealings.
All speakers at the meeting shared a common opinion. The government on its part assured to do everything to protect the State interests. However the UDF MPs were unwilling to meet with the Union Finance Minister or sign petition that only spoke of the State’s financial distress. They are pretty much protecting the BJP interests. And, instead of attempting to ensure Kerala gets the money due to it, the MPs are using Parliament as platform to speak against the State, the minister said.
The Centre has slashed a huge margin of money owed to the State. In 2020-21, the total share of State in revenue excluding debt figured to 56.3 percent. In 2021 -22, it rose to 59 percent and further to 65.6 last year. This year that figure is 71 per cent, meaning the Centre’s share is reduced to less than one-third.
States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, more than 50 percent of the revenue in state comes from the Centre. Some Northern states receive as high as seventy percent. Kerala is the only State made to suffer like this, the Minister told reporters.
