Declare Kerala backward for Centre’s funds: Union minister sparks row
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New Delhi: Union Minister from Kerala Geroge Kurian made an extremely problematic statement that the Centre will provide more funds to the state only if it declares itself backwards. Kurian, also a BJP leader from the state, made the statement while there is already a row going on over the Centre's negligence towards the state in Budget 2025-26.
After the Budget speech by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said it was a disappointing budget for the state. He said the Centre had ignored their request for funds to rebuild Wayanad, where landslides in July claimed more than 400 lives. The Budget also ignored the Vizhinjam Port in Kerala.
He said that Kerala is being penalised for its gains in the education and other sectors. It is said that the state does not need more as we are already ahead in many sectors. But there are some areas where Kerala is lagging, but the Union government is not providing any support to uplift these sectors, the CM said. He added that Kerala has been sidelined in this budget too which is unacceptable.
Both ruling faction and the opposition, except BJP, came down at the Centre over the budget.
This is when Union Minister Kurian rose to his ranks to state that if the state wanted funds, it should declare itself backwards.
Addressing the LDF government he said, "You announce that Kerala is backward, that it does not have roads, good education, etc. If you say Kerala is behind other states in terms of education, infrastructure, and social welfare, then the (Finance) Commission will examine it and give a report to the central government. The central government will make a decision based on the report. It does not decide on its own,” NDTV quoted.
However, the state was obviously up in arms over his statement. Venting his outrage, a prominent Left leader in Kerala suggested that Kurian quit as central minister.
Kurian is a Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and for Minority Affairs in the third Narendra Modi government.