Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched a sharp attack on the Central Government on Thursday, accusing it of deliberately attempting to "financially strangle" the state. He announced a significant satyagraha protest on January 12 in Thiruvananthapuram to oppose what he termed an "economic blockade."
Protest Against Borrowing Limit Cuts
Addressing reporters, Vijayan detailed the financial grievances. He alleged that since 2017, the Centre has been unfairly reducing Kerala's permissible borrowing limit. The method, he claimed, involves including amounts from the state's Public Account while calculating these cuts, which he views as a targeted financial squeeze. "The Central Government is continuously attempting to financially strangle Kerala," the Chief Minister stated emphatically.
The protest, named a 'satyagraha,' is scheduled to take place at the Martyrs’ Column in the state capital. Vijayan called for widespread public support, noting that Ministers, MLAs, and MPs from the state would participate in the demonstration against the Central Government's policies.
Criticism of Foreign Policy and US Stance
Vijayan's criticism extended beyond domestic finance to India's foreign policy. He accused the Modi government of displaying "subservience to the United States" and trivializing serious global issues. He pointedly referenced a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs which, according to him, failed to even mention the United States by name in a relevant context.
"The central government is unable even to register a protest against the American President, who makes statements every day that insult India and our sovereignty," Vijayan asserted. He linked this to recent threats by former US President Donald Trump about raising import tariffs on Indian goods, questioning the national response.
Swipes at Congress and Warnings on Venezuela
The Kerala CM did not spare the principal opposition party, the Congress. He criticized it for "moving along the same path" as the ruling BJP in its approach to the US. As an example, he mentioned the Congress government in Telangana's alleged enthusiasm for constructing a road in Donald Trump's name despite his threats.
Vijayan then turned to the international crisis in Venezuela, framing it as a cautionary tale. He condemned what he called American imperialism for intruding into Venezuela, detaining its leader, and attempting to overthrow an elected government through sanctions. "What happened in Venezuela today can happen in any other country in the world tomorrow," he warned, describing the global situation as alarming. He implied that only forces historically aligned with foreign intelligence, like the CIA, would support such actions.
The Chief Minister's broadside sets the stage for a major political confrontation, with the January 12 satyagraha poised to highlight the escalating fiscal and ideological rift between the Left-ruled state and the Centre.
