Kerala becomes 1st state to eradicate ‘extreme poverty’ | Kochi News
KOCHI: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday declared in the state assembly that Kerala is now free of extreme poverty. The announcement was made during a special session of the assembly held to mark Kerala ‘Piravi’, the state’s formation day. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition rejected the claim, calling it “pure fraud,” and boycotted the session in protest. As proceedings began, Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan criticised the declaration, saying the CM’s statement under Rule 300 was “in contempt” of House rules. “We cannot join in that and are completely boycotting the session,” he said, while leading a walkout amid slogans denouncing the government’s claim as “fraud” and “shameful.” Responding to the allegations, CM Vijayan said the opposition’s comments reflected their own behaviour. “We only say what we can implement. We have implemented what we had said. That is our reply to the opposition leader,” he told the assembly.
