AIIMS, High-Speed Rail: Kerala Repeatedly Neglected by Centre, Says Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused the Central Government of grossly ignoring the state despite its exemplary development achievements, adding that the latest Union Budget was a reflection of the same neglect. Speaking at the inauguration of the southern sector of the LDF Development Advancement March (Vikasana Munnetta Jatha) in Chelakkara, the Chief Minister pointed out that the budget did not even mention Kerala, although the Economic Survey presented by the Ministry of Finance the day before highlighted the state’s achievements. “Yet none of those accomplishments were reflected in the budget,” he said.

The Chief Minister recalled Kerala’s long-standing demand for AIIMS, noting that while AIIMS institutions have been set up in many other states, sometimes more than one per state, Kerala’s request has repeatedly been ignored or delayed by successive BJP Governments in the centre. The state had suggested four locations for AIIMS, including Kozhikode’s Kinaloor site, but every year, the response from the Centre was disappointing, he said.

The CM added that neglect extends beyond AIIMS. No special educational projects have been announced for Kerala, and the Central Government seems to adopt the attitude that it is enough for the state to travel at old speeds. To address this, the Kerala government proposed the SilverLine semi-high-speed rail project, spanning from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod. Normally, such a project would receive Central approval, but the Centre refused to grant permission. The state then waited for approval, during which time railway expert E. Sreedharan submitted a detailed blueprint. The plan was shared with the Central Railway Minister, but no response has been received, the CM said, adding that Sreedharan has now reportedly started working from his office. "He has opened offices before," he added refering to Sreedharan opening MLA office in Palakkad during the last byelection.

He criticized the Centre for excluding Kerala from announced high-speed rail projects, asking rhetorically, “What mistake has Kerala made? What resentment is this against the state?” The CM accused the Union Government of showing hostility toward the people of Kerala because the BJP has not been accepted in the state, adding that the federal structure of India is being completely undermined, and that the Centre is encroaching upon the powers of the states.