Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 4: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday tabled a resolution in the Kerala Legislative Assembly under Rule 118, voicing sharp opposition to what the state government termed the Union government’s persistent neglect and discriminatory treatment of Kerala across multiple sectors.
Presenting the resolution, Vijayan said India’s global stature depends on the collective strength and progress of all its states, warning that undermining states would inevitably erode national strength. He stressed that the Constitution’s three-tier governance structure is rooted in federalism, a principle he said is now facing sustained dilution.
The chief minister noted that Kerala’s long-pending and legitimate demands have repeatedly failed to receive serious consideration from the Centre, leading to growing public discontent. Ignoring a state that has produced internationally recognised development models, he argued, weakens democratic federal values and raises troubling questions about the state of Indian democracy.
Balanced regional development, Vijayan said, is essential for national progress, but recent Union Budgets increasingly depart from this principle. Highlighting healthcare, he recalled that Kerala has been seeking an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for over 20 years and has already identified land and completed most acquisition formalities. Despite this, the Centre has taken no steps, with successive Union Budgets remaining silent on the demand. The Assembly unanimously reiterated its call for immediate sanctioning of an AIIMS for Kerala.
On employment, the chief minister said Kerala has consistently led in implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
However, the restructuring of the programme into VB-G RAM G reduced central funding from full support to 60 per cent, causing an estimated loss of Rs 3,800 crore to the state. He warned that further cuts in allocations proposed in the 2026–27 Budget would seriously impact Kerala.
Turning to railways, Vijayan pointed out that travelling the 573-km stretch from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod still takes nearly 13 hours. He said Kerala urgently needs a high-speed rail corridor, irrespective of the model adopted, but repeated appeals have gone unanswered. Proposals for a railway coach factory and surveys for new rail lines have also been rejected, he added.
The chief minister accused the Centre of discrimination in infrastructure development as well, citing the refusal to grant “point of call” status to Kannur International Airport for foreign airlines. He also criticised what he described as an inhumane approach to disaster relief, pointing to inadequate compensation for victims of the Mundakkai–Chooralmala disaster and amendments that removed loan write-off provisions for those affected by disasters.
Vijayan further highlighted severe reductions in Kerala’s borrowing limits, revenue deficit grants, IGST dues and allocations for centrally sponsored schemes, terming these measures a form of financial strangulation.
The resolution urged the Union government to urgently revise its stance, recommit to cooperative federalism and ensure fair treatment for Kerala in the broader interest of balanced national development. Assembly speaker A.N. Shamseer later announced that the resolution had been adopted.
The opposition, however, claimed it had not been formally informed about the resolution’s introduction. They had boycotted the day’s proceedings earlier, protesting what they alleged was the state government’s manipulation of the Sabarimala gold heist case.