Kerala CM to discuss Centre's neglect towards state with Oppostion

Thiruvananthapuram: To discuss the alleged neglect the Central government showed towards Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan invited the Leader of the Opposition in the state, VD Satheesan and Muslim League leader P K Kunhalikutty, PTI reported.

In a statement, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that Vijayan would hold talks with the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, Satheesan and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Kunhalikutty, on January 15.

The discussion is prompted by the perceived neglect and wrong approach towards the state by the central government, which, according to the CMO statement, has exceeded all limits.

The Left government has already moved the Supreme Court against the Centre's "unconstitutional and illegal" measures that have placed the southern state in dire financial straits.

The state government has contended that despite repeated communications to the Centre to cease its "discriminatory" actions, it has intensified its "vindictive moves," making it difficult for Kerala to survive.

The CPI(M)-led LDF government's move also comes in the wake of the BJP's renewed bid to expand its base in Kerala ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

However, UDF leaders have not responded to the Chief Minister's invitation, which coincides with the Congress-led alliance's ongoing criticism of the Left dispensation for alleged atrocities during protests against the Vijayan-led government's perceived misrule.

On Friday, the Youth Congress stepped up their protest against the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's alleged use of state police and CPI(M) workers to stifle democratic dissent, The Hindu reported.

Late on the day, Youth Congress workers marched to CM Vijayan's official residence at Cliff House in the capital, protesting their leader, Rahul Mamkootathil, who is the state president of Youth Congress.

However, the police installed barricades half a kilometre away from Cliff House to block marchers, The Hindu reports.