Reckless policies of LDF, UDF led to fiscal crisis in Kerala: Nirmala

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defends Centre's funding to Kerala, blames fiscal crisis on state governments' reckless policies.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the “reckless policies” of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) governments have led to a “fiscal crisis” in Kerala, as she dismissed allegations that the Centre has cut funds for the State.

The Finance Minister also mentioned that the Left government of E.M.S. Namboodiripad in Kerala was dismissed by the Congress.

“The truth is that Kerala’s fiscal crisis is a result of both the LDF and the UDF governments’ reckless policies and not the fault of the Union government. Did it stop us from doing work in Kerala? No,” she said.

Amid protests from the Opposition members and heated exchanges, Ms. Sitharaman referred to the Communist Party of India (CPI) government of Namboodiripad being dismissed by the Congress regime at the Centre.

“When the Namboodiripad government was thrown out by the Congress.... Do remember the day when democracy was killed by an elected government being thrown out. Where were you at that time?,” she asked.

“You are a Communist party member, you are sitting in alignment with the Congress. The Congress is the one which threw it out, you do not even want to remember that. With respect, I will bring Namboodiripad, the patron of Communism in India,” she said.

Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar pointed out that it was the first-ever elected Communist government in the world.