
The Minister of Finance of the Union Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in Rajya Sabha during the parliament’s budget in Nový Delhi on Thursday. | Photo Credit: Neither
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday Rajya Sabha that the “ruthless policy” of the left democratic front (LDF) and the government of the United Democratic Front (UDF) led to the “fiscal crisis” in Kerala when it rejected the center.
The Minister of Finance also mentioned that the congress was released by the left government of the EMS namboodiripad in Kerala.
“The truth is that Kerala’s fiscal crisis is the result of the reckless policy of LDF and the Government of UDF and not for the guilt of the Union government. It prevented us from working in Kerala?”
In the middle of protests from members of the opposition and heated exchanges, Mrs. Sitharaman referred to the Communist Party of India (CPI) of the Namboodiripad government, which was released in the center.
“When Congress threw the government namboodiripad …. Remember the day when a democracy was killed by the elected government. Where were you at that time?” She asked.
“You are a member of the Communist Party, sitting in accordance with Congress. Congress is the one who has fired it, nor do you want to remember it. I will bring namboodiripad, the patron saint of communism in India,” she said.
President Jagdeep Dhankhar pointed out that it was the first elected communist government in the world.
Relevancy
When some of the opposition deputies asked what the meaning of this point was, Mrs. Sithaman said, “For me, even in 1959 he was throwing old communist government.” If a member of the Communist Party asks me what its meaning is … I’m surprised. You should never forget, “she said.
Mrs. Sithaman rejects the accusations that the Center does not disappear sufficient resources for the state, said: “Kerala received 1.57 Lakh Crore in 2014 and 2024, an increase of 239% for the UPA period. How much did it gain in 2004 and 2014?” It’s not less than what you received before, “she added.
The Minister said there was a 509% increase in Grant-in-AID and while Kerala received 25 630 GBP between 2004 and 2014, it received 1.56 lakh crore between 2014 and 2024.
“A sense of responsibility”
“I say it with a sense of responsibility that Kerala has never been supported better than this government, the way Modi Prime Minister (Narendra) supported it,” she said.
“It hurts as Kerala repeatedly says he’s discriminating us,” she said.
Mrs. Sitharaman also quoted the Supreme Court judgment in the case of borrowing limits stating that Kerala “did not use fiscal space and that the state used too much of its fiscal space.”
She also quoted a CAG audit report and said that in 2022-23, 97.88% of the keral debt revenues were used in 2022-23 to repay the outstanding debt, indicating poor debt management by the state government.
Published – March 28, 2025 12:22 AM IS