Modi who tried to choke Kerala is promising development: CM

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticizes BJP's economic chokehold on Kerala, promises development packages, urges support for LDF candidate.

The Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre, which has been trying to choke Kerala economically and by denying its eligible rights, is promising development packages to the State at the time of the polls, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

The Chief Minister was responding to the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during campaign meetings in the State.

Addressing a campaign meeting of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, V.S. Sunil Kumar, here on Monday, he said the people in the State knew what had been the stand of the Centre towards the State. “The State went through miserable conditions of floods, corona and Nipah outbreaks, and Ockhi. We were struggling for support. The Centre denied us even the eligible special package. It not only denied support but also stopped us from taking help from other countries, who were willing to support us. The Centre did not even give permission for the Ministers to go abroad to collect help from the non-resident Keralites,” the Chief Minister recalled.

“But we survived the most difficult times. The entire world looked at us with surprise. The people here will neve forget it, he said. “The BJP has revenge towards Kerala because it never allowed the party to win from the State,” he said. The State was forced to pay ₹5,600 crore for acquiring land for national highway (NH) development in the past five years, which is the largest share in the county. No other State has given such a huge amount like this small State, Mr. Vijayan said.

“Modi was offering a high speed rail network for the State. We should remember, it was the same Centre which denied permission for the K-Rail project.”

The Prime Minster was promising to bring our State into global attention. “Kerala is already noticed by the world for its development in the sectors of education, health, and other parameters, which are on a par with developed countries.”

The State had been demanding a package for coastal development for many years. We were also demanding to amend the Wildlife Protection Act that gave more importance to the wild animals than to human beings, he said.