National Desk, 12th February: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took a firm stand against what he perceived as undue political imposition by the Centre, rejecting its directive to display Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s posters and banners in state ration shops. During a session in the state Assembly, Vijayan labeled the move as “not right” and “difficult to implement,” responding to queries from an Opposition MLA regarding the alleged directive’s veracity.
Vijayan’s outspoken condemnation follows his active participation in a protest rally on February 8, denouncing what he termed as “financial injustice” orchestrated by the BJP-led Union government. The protest, echoing similar demonstrations in Karnataka, provided a unified platform for leaders from various states to express concerns over equitable treatment of states by the Centre.
Emphasizing the significance of India’s federal structure and equal distribution of resources among states, Vijayan declared, “We are beginning a reunited fight that would herald the dawn of ensuring equal treatment of the states.” He underscored the pivotal role of the protest in asserting states’ rights within the country’s governance framework.
Notable leaders joining Vijayan in this display of solidarity included Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, former Union minister Kapil Sibal, and Tamil Nadu minister Palanivel Thiagarajan. Together, they reiterated the urgent need for immediate GST compensation, revenue deficit grants, fair tax devolution, and expeditious settlement of pending central grants to promote balanced development across states.