CPM stages protest against Centre’s attempts to ‘destabilise’ Kerala Govt

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Shimla, February 8

CPM activists here on Thursday staged a protest against the alleged attempts of the Central Government to destabilise the Kerala Government and starve it of its funds.

Hundreds of CPM activists staged a protest outside the Shimla District Magistrate’s office and raised slogans against the Centre.

“Guided by the motive of political vendetta, the Centre is not just trying to destabilise the Kerala Government, but is also trying to dilute its powers and reducefinancial assistance to it,” said CPM state secretary Jagat Ram.

Addressing the workers, he said the Modi-led government was blatantly discriminating against the CPIM-ruled Kerala state.

“The Central Government has centralised all the financial powers, taking these into its own hands. These are being misused in various ways. All the states in the country are badly affected by this. However, Kerala is being harassed the most,” he said.

The Central Government is not ready to distribute GST to the states in the ratio of 60:40, Ram alleged.

“The payments that are being made, are not being made on time by the Central Government and the states. Despite the cess and surcharge increasing continuously, this money is not being shared with the states,” he said.

He said the state’s ability to take loans has been limited, due to which it is not able to carry out welfare schemes and development work.

“There has been a huge reduction in financial assistance and tax transfers, the 4 four per cent share given to Kerala has been reduced to 1.9 per cent,” he said.

Other speakers at the protest also criticised the Centre for allegedly adopting a discriminatory approach against the non-BJP ruled states.

“Kerala’s development model has made its mark across the world by making huge progress in health, education and welfare schemes. Due to the huge reforms in the education sector, lakhs of students have left private schools and enrolled in government schools. In Kerala, more than 60 lakh people are being given a monthly welfare pension of Rs 1,600,” said state CPM Secretariat member Kuldeep Tanwar.

Speakers at the protest accused the Modi-led government of arresting and torturing leaders in non-BJP ruled states through probe agencies such as the CBI and ED.

“CPM strongly opposes this despicable act of the Central Government. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has gone two steps ahead of the Modi government in destabilising the Kerala government,” one of the speakers said.

Leaders of the protest also cited the recent instance wherein the Returning Officer rigged the Chandigarh Mayoral Elections, supposedly at the behest of BJP.

“This is the biggest attack on the independent election system, democracy and constitutional values,” one of the speakers said.

State committee members Jagmohan Thakur, Ram Singh and district committee member Balak Ram were among those who took part in the protest.

‘Misusing financial powers’

The Central Government has centralised all the financial powers, taking these into its own hands. These are being misused in various ways. All the states in the country are badly affected by this. However, Kerala is being harassed the most. — Jagat Ram, cpm state secretary

Kerala high on developement

Kerala’s development model has made its mark across the world by making huge progress in health, education and welfare schemes. Lakhs of students have left private schools and enrolled in government schools. In Kerala, more than 60 lakh people are being given a monthly welfare pension of Rs 1,600. — Kuldeep Tanwar, cpm secretariat member