The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: Following the sharp criticism of the union budget from the ruling CPI (M) and opposition Congress in Kerala, Union Minister George Kurian said that if Kerala wants more funds from the Centre, the state should declare that it is backward in terms of education, infrastructure, and social welfare.
“You announce that Kerala is backward, that it does not have roads, good education, etc. If you say that 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 take a decision based on the report. It does not decide on its own,” Kurian, the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Minority Affairs, reported the Press Trust of India.
Earlier, the state’s politicians, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal and Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan had termed the budget “condemnable”, “extremely disappointing” and “unfortunate.” And accused the Centre of neglecting the state.
CPI (M) and Congress leaders from Kerala accused the Centre of “ignoring” in the budget several of the state’s demands, including a special financial package of Rs 24,000 crore and another package fo the rehabilitation of Wayanad.
“So, George Kurian’s help is for Kerala to go backwards,” Kurian added.