Synopsis
The breakfast meeting between Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman raised concerns among Congress leaders, especially regarding pressing state issues and the ongoing Asha workers' protest, which went unaddressed.Key Takeaways
- CM Vijayan and FM Sitharaman met informally.
- Congress leaders expressed concerns over Kerala's needs.
- Discussions included state issues like the Wayanad landslide package.
- Asha workers' ongoing protest was notably absent from discussions.
- Vijayan in Delhi for CPI-M meeting ahead of State Congress.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, March 12 (NationPress) The informal breakfast gathering between Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday at the Kerala House in Delhi, attended by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, has faced criticism from Congress General Secretary (Organisation) and Alappuzha Lok Sabha member K.C. Venugopal.
"I noticed a post regarding a breakfast meeting involving CM Vijayan and Sitharaman. I hope it won't resemble the PM Modi-Trump meeting in the US. We are continually advocating for Kerala's needs and will persist in pressuring the Centre," stated Venugopal.
Interestingly, Vijayan had invited Sitharaman to this breakfast, which also featured Governor Arlekar and K.V. Thomas, a former Congress leader and ex-Union Minister representing Kerala in Delhi.
As per reliable sources from the gathering, Vijayan highlighted various state issues to Sitharaman, including the Wayanad landslide package, Vizhinjam Port, and the extension of the deadline for utilizing Rs 529 crore allocated as a loan in February.
The condition attached to the loan was that if it isn't used for the rehabilitation programme in landslide-affected Wayanad, the unused portion would be reclaimed.
Surprisingly, the ongoing indefinite protest by Asha workers, which entered its 31st day on Wednesday in front of the State Secretariat in the capital, demanding increased wages and settlement of dues, was not on the agenda.
Reacting to the lack of discussion about their situation, Asha workers voiced their disappointment that Vijayan did not address their concerns with Sitharaman.
Notably, Vijayan was in the national capital for the CPI-M Politburo meeting, ahead of the upcoming State Party Congress scheduled in Madurai next month.
