Union Budget 2025: Union Minister George Kurian stokes row, says Kerala should declare itself ‘backward’ for funds

Union Minister George Kurian has kicked up a fresh row saying his home state, Kerala, should declare itself backward if the state wants more funds from the Centre. The CPI(M)-led government in Kerala had termed the Union budget tabled on Saturday a “major letdown” for the state.

Addressing presspersons in New Delhi, countering comments of opposition on the Union budget, Kurian said, “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,” PTI reported. Kurian said the Centre does not decide on its own, and decision is taken based on the report.

CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan condemned the comments and said the Centre should help Kerala to progress further. “Centre wants Kerala to be backward, but that will not happen. Central government is supposed to help Kerala develop further, instead of asking it to go backwards,” Govindan said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Union budget on Saturday. Terming the budget a major letdown for Kerala, the state government said none of its demands has been accommodated in the budget. The state had hoped for relief measures for those affected by the Mundakkai and Chooralmala disasters and a dedicated package for Vizhinjam Port’s development.

Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal said the state had sought a ₹24,000 crore package to address its financial strain but it was not included in the budget. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan charged the Centre is “punishing” the state for the progress the state has made in various sectors.