THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan scripted history yesterday taking 16 of his Cabinet ministers and parliamentarians and legislators belonging to his Left Democratic Front (LDF) to New Delhi to stage a sit-in protest before the Indian Parliament.
He is the first chief minister to stage such a protest before India’s seat of power seeking “justice” for the southernmost state from the federal government. Achuthanandan alleges that the Manmohan Singh government was neglecting his state in all areas.
The 85-year-old veteran of many a struggle in Kerala led a march on the Parliament from the Kerala House before staging the sit-in there. Several leaders, including the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat, addressed the sit-in.
The demonstration will cost the state exchequer an estimated 30 million rupees by way of train and air fares and accommodation for the VIPs in the national capital.
“Kerala is being penalized for the withdrawal of support by the left parties for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in New Delhi,” Achuthanandan said. “So the Cabinet decided to take the protest to the Parliament’s doorsteps”.
The chief minister said the federal government has been refusing to correct its policy of neglect toward Kerala despite all attempts on the part of the state.
The grievances of the state include a cut in allocation of subsidized rice, reduction in the state’s share of electricity from the central grid and the disinclination to sanction relief in times of natural calamities.
“The state had sent several memoranda to the centre on these subjects. Even all-party delegations had met the prime minister and the concerned federal ministers. The state received nothing but promises,” Achuthanandan said.
“Kerala where agriculture is dominated by cash crops depends a great deal on central allocation of rice and wheat for its food security. But the state government receives no help from the federal government”.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi came out strongly against the move and said it was unfortunate that “a chief minister was stooping to this level to make political mileage out of a nonissue”.
“This is ridiculous. There is no dearth of funds and welfare programs but the state government failed miserably to utilize them,” he said listing out a number of schemes that the federal government introduced in the state.
“In fact, the chief minister should compliment us for approving projects worth 315.03 billion rupees, sanctioning 12 central establishments and implementing 30 centrally sponsored schemes.”
The Congress-led opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) staged protest marches yesterday to “highlight the failure of the state government on all counts”.
“Instead of initiating any action to solve the real issues concerning the people, Achuthandan is staging Munnar-model (demolition of illegal structures) dramas, fuelling absurd controversies like SEZ and organizing Delhi-model strikes,” opposition leader Oommen Chandy said.
“Please remember all dramas come to an end. It’s not a case of center neglecting Kerala but a case of the state government neglecting its own people. This government begs in Delhi for rice, power and money, goes to neighboring states for fruits, vegetables and milk and eggs and they ask people to pay more for everything — power, water and milk.”
