Gives one Vande Bharat & brags about it: Pinarayi flays PM Modi

Kozhikode: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan came down on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the latter is deliberately degrading the state of Kerala. The CM was referring to Modi's negative comments on Kerala during his recent visit to the state, PTI reported.

Vijayan asked if providing one Vande Bharat train and bragging about it is enough for Kerala, Manorama reported.

The CM asserted that the state of Kerala has only "neglect and discrimination" from the Centre, adding that one Vande Bharat will not hide those things.

Vijayan listed the statements PM made about Kerala, including the alleged huge unemployment in the state. The CM said that the claims were baseless and devoid of facts.

"The Prime Minister deliberately tried to belittle Kerala," he claimed.

Vijayan then came down on the Modi government, questioning it for taking payment for the foodgrains provided as a relief after the 2018 floods. He reminded that the foodgrains were offered free then.

"We thought the foodgrains were free and distributed them accordingly. But the Centre took payment for it later," the CM said.

Also, Kerala's share in taxes was cut down, he said.

"This is the kind of neglect and discrimination that Kerala has experienced at the hands of the Central government. Such things cannot be hidden by bringing a Vande Bharat train to the state."

Speaking here at an event on the occasion of Onchiyam Martyrdom, the Kerala CM gave details of the state government's initiatives to provide jobs to the youth and the appointments made through the public service commission.

He also gave details of various other welfare measures -- like housing under Life Mission and pensions for the elderly -- that the Left government has carried out in the state and contended that it was the BJP at the Centre which has not followed through on its poll promises to provide jobs to the youth.