Kerala leader of the opposition VD Satheesan on Friday (February 7, 2025) described the Kerala 2025-26 budget a “false and cruel construction that sounded resonistly and had no promise for the State”
He said the budget has “exacerbated” the crisis of the cost of living for the people of the working class by proposing an “unreasonably high” increase of 50% in the land tax. Mr. Satheesan demanded that the Government go back the increase or prepared for intense street agitation.
Also read | Kerala Budget 2025-26 Live updates
At a press conference, Mr. Sateheesan said the budget was “an inconsequential and embroidery document full of false claims and hyperbole.”
He said that the budget was not related to public life because the government coffers were dried due to years of fiscal poor management and tax administration.
Consequently, Mr. Satheesan said that the Government had drastically reduced the 2024-25 budget funds through a sub -ptia and illegal executive order to avoid the assignments approved by the Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Satheesan said that the “bottom of the clandestine plan cut” stopped the minority scholarships, the welfare schemes of the tribe of scheduled caste/tribe and the scheme of mission of the flagship of the democratic front (LDF) to free Kerala de Kerala de The lack of housing.
“For one, in the previous budget, the LDF allocated ₹ 500 million rupees for the Life mission project. In retrospect, it was a mere bombardment. The government only used 24% of the very translated allocation because its coffers were very empty, ”he said.
Mr. Satheesan said that the creak of funds had hindered civic works. The Government owed him contractors of rupees of rupees for projects already executed. He has denied local organizations for the part of the State’s income.
He said that suppliers have stopped supplying Supplyco, the State Market Intervention Agency responsible for mitigating the seller’s inflation. The government owed the suppliers approximately ₹ 700 million rupees, including rice farmers.
“The Minister of Finance, KN Balagopal, has shown a patent of respect for public intelligence by assigning ₹ 200 million rupees for Supplyco. The amount barely covered the agency’s debt. The minister must explain where Supplyco would increase working capital for the next prosecutor, ”he asked.
Mr. Satheesan painted a gloomy image of the state’s fiscal situation. Government’s flagship medical insurance plans, Karunya (for civilians) and Medisep (for government employees) had left because the state government and private hospitals are important amounts of money. “Hospitals are increasingly reluctant to honor insurance schemes, leaving Patient Lakhs in the stake,” he added.
Mr. Satheesan said the Jal Jeevan mission, a scheme to provide drinking water to rural homes, had stopped. “The government owed contractors outstanding debts. He added that the center had retained its part because the State was not willing to honor its financial commitment to the ambitious scheme. “
Mr. Satheesan said that Mr. Balagopal had “built” state employees by stating that the accumulation of assignments would be reflected in their respective forecast fund accounts “at some point in the future.”
‘Deceptive figures’
He said Mr. Balagopal had tried to pull wool on the public eye by claiming a considerable increase in state income. “I had drawn a misleading comparison between current income and receipts from the Covid decrease era when life and commerce had reached a dead point. He added that he has resorted to a deceptively intelligent juggling of financial figures to deceive the public.
Mr. Satheesan said that the tax revenue in the state pierced the question of why Kerala, a state of consumption, has not benefited from the GST regime.
Mr. Satheesan said that the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board (Kiifb), a special purpose vehicle created by the previous LDF government, had become a mill stone around the state’s neck.
Mr. Satheesan said that despite the red flags of warning raised by the opposition, Kiifb made considerable non -Budgetar loans of the open financial market, apparently for the development of infrastructure, with the state as guarantor.
He said the LDF isolated the Kiifb of legislative and budgetary scrutiny. The organization invested in non -generating and “jaw” projects without any consultation.
“As warned, the massive and reckless loans of Kiifb have significantly increased Kerala’s debt load. The government could not prevent Kiifb from immersing in a financial crisis by supporting it with the consolidated fund of the State (mainly due to fuel cessation and motor tax). The LDF wants the public to ask the bill for the failures of the white elephant by increasing land tax and considering a proposal to impose a toll on roads, ”he added.
Mr. Satheesan said the budget did not address pressing demographic issues, including the birth rate and the exodus of young talents to foreign countries.
“The budget is the government’s responsibility document, goodbye and renunciation of the LDF government to push the State with the State through nine years of Missule,” he added.
Published – February 7, 2025 02:38 pm ist
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