‘Anti-development groups spreading lies about Kerala'
Pinarayi Vijayan
said anti-development campaigners are spreading lies to oppose progress and infrastructure in Kerala. Speaking at an LDF rally in Kozhikode Beach on Tuesday, he said these groups were deliberately trying to create the impression that the plan projects in state have come to a standstill.
"Reality is quite the opposite. Of the Rs 30,370 crore allocated for FY 2024-25, we've already spent Rs 29,224 crore, which is 96.2% of the funds," he said. Vijayan added that of the Rs 8,532 crore set aside for local bodies, 110% of the funds have been used, with projects worth Rs 9,452 crore underway. "Yet, Kerala is being portrayed as a state where all projects have stalled," he added.He said the state faced setbacks during the pandemic, like the rest of the country. After the pandemic, the gross state domestic product grew by 10.7% in 2022-23 and rose to 11.9% in 2023-24. He added that per capita income has also increased compared to the state average. Vijayan said it is understandable that a party like BJP, with no real foothold in the state, harbours resentment. However, he added that Congress-led UDF is adopting an anti-Kerala stance like the BJP.The CM criticized the Centre for failing to help the state during the 2018 floods and other disasters. He said PM Narendra Modi, who accepted foreign aid when he was the CM of Gujarat after a natural disaster, took a stance that Kerala could not receive foreign aid. Vijayan added that after the 2018 floods, many foreign countries offered help, but the central government refused to accept it and did not assist the state."India govt flatly said no when many countries offered help to the state. What does that mean? Isn't it an attitude that Kerala can be left to suffer?" Vijayan asked."We should also note that UDF stood with the Centre and supported its stance. UDF thought we would fail. But now, both India and the world are surprised at how Kerala overcame all those challenges," he said, adding that the unity of the people made it possible.
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