‘Declare Kerala as backward, then aid will follow’: MoS George Kurian's remark stirs controversy

New Delhi: In a controversial statement following the Union Budget announcement, Minister of State George Kurian suggested that Kerala should declare itself backward in order to receive aid. 

"Help is given to states that are behind. Compared to other states, Kerala is backward in education, social development and infrastructure. If Kerala declares this, the commission will examine it and report to the Central Government," said the Union Minister from Kerala.

"Help is given to backward states. If Kerala announces that it is backward, it will receive support. If Kerala declares that we have no roads, no education and lack such facilities and that it is backward in terms of education, social development and infrastructure compared to other states, the commission will examine it. Once reviewed, the government will receive a report. This is how decisions will be made. Otherwise, it's not the government's concern," George Kurian, MoState for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs in the third Modi Government, added.

Earlier, leaders from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) had accused the Central Government of neglecting Kerala in the Union Budget. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had stated that the Union budget had turned into a political document of neglect. He also described the budget as extremely disappointing and unfortunate, criticising it for increasing inflation, unemployment and poverty, stalling development, and violating the federal nature of the Constitution by denying the state's interests.