Lakhs join DYFI's 600 km human chain against Centre's neglect of Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram: After the series of roadshows conducted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kerala recently, on Saturday it was the turn of the ruling CPM's youth wing DYFI to show its organisational might in the state which is considered Left's impregnable fortress.
Thousands of people held hands and lined up along the state and national highways, streets and junctions to form a 650 km long human chain from the northernmost part of the state Kasargod to the southern tip of Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram district. DYFI claimed that over 20 lakh people representing various sections of society took part in the mammoth human chain.
The human chain was organised to protest against Kerala’s neglect by the BJP-led Central Government.
At the public meetings held as part of the human chain, the CPM and DYFI leaders refuted the tall claims made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the benefits being given by the central government to the people of the state. They accused the centre of smothering the state financially by depriving it of its genuine needs.
Kerala should have received a total of Rs 57,000 crore by way of GST compensation, revenue deficit grant, hike in borrowing limit and under various other heads. However, the Centre’s anti-Kerala attitude is affecting the development activities in the state.
The centre released Rs 1404 crore on December 22, 2023 as tax devolution ahead of festivities which was the only relief that Kerala got recently. The CPM leaders said Mr Modi was making false claims about the “Modiyude guarantee” and that people of the state would see through their designs. Apart from top CPM leaders, prominent people from various walks of life including cultural leaders, actors and writers took part in the human chain.
CM, ministers to hold dharna in Delhi on February 8
The ruling LDF has decided to take the fight against the Central Government to Delhi. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues will stage a protest dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on February 8 against the central government’s `stepmotherly’ treatment towards Kerala.
Top leaders, MPs, MLAs and elected representatives will take part in the protest.
The “Delhi Chalo” campaign comes close on the heels of the 35-day state-wide bus yatra of Kerala Cabinet covering 140 assembly constituencies which ended on December 23.
The Left leadership has constantly raised the financial issues confronting the state.
The LDF leadership had invited the leaders of the Congress-led opposition UDF to join them in the dharna in Delhi. However, the opposition has declined to take part in the agitation. The UDF leadership believes that the Centre’s neglect of Kerala was only one of the reasons for the current crisis in the state.
The UDF alleged that dues of the social security pension are yet to be cleared, paddy farmers are in crisis, Rs 250 support price for rubber farmers on papers, nine lakh homeless people awaiting homes under the Life Mission project, non-availability of essential commodities in Supplyco and subsidised products in Maveli stores.
Moreover, the government is facing serious charges of financial irregularities and corruption.
