Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday criticised the Kerala budget. He said there are no surprises in it. Moreover, he said the budget ignores agriculture and traditional industries.
He said farmers in rubber, cashew, and paddy sectors received no support. As a result, these sectors continue to face stress. He also said the government has not strengthened welfare schemes started earlier.
‘No Vision in the Budget’
“There is no wonder in the budget,” Vijayan said. He added that the government has only repeated old announcements.
Moreover, he said the budget does not show any clear direction for Kerala’s future development. He also pointed out that several proposals are rebranded versions of earlier schemes.
Questions Over Financial Claims
Vijayan also questioned the government’s claim of a financial crisis. However, he said the numbers in the budget do not support that claim.
Additionally, he noted that the government was able to allocate an extra ₹2,000 crore. Therefore, he argued that the crisis claim appears political.
Concerns Over Policy Direction
He accused the government of supporting privatisation. Meanwhile, he said recent policies favour private companies in mining and coastal sectors.
Furthermore, he raised concerns about proposed land reforms. He said these changes could weaken existing land laws.
Welfare and Health Spending
Vijayan said welfare schemes received very low allocations. In particular, he criticised the health insurance budget as “symbolic”.
Additionally, he said major welfare projects like LIFE Mission are being weakened.
Lack of Clear Blueprint
He said the government has no clear blueprint for Kerala’s future. Moreover, he claimed that old schemes are being renamed and presented as new ones.
As a result, he said people are not seeing real progress in governance.
Remarks on Ongoing Case
Responding to questions about a bank locker inspection linked to a case involving his daughter, Vijayan said routine procedures are being exaggerated. However, he said such actions are being presented as major events.