Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan made an official announcement in the Assembly session today, declaring the state as an extreme poverty-free state. The Chief Minister presented this great achievement to the nation in a special session that began at 9 am. The Chief Minister explained that this achievement is due to long-term social welfare schemes and people’s development policies. He said that the last phase of extreme poverty could be successfully completed due to the joint efforts of the state government.
But this announcement was met with strong opposition by the opposition. Responding from the House, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan alleged that this announcement was untrue and a fraud that was misleading the people. VD Satheesan alleged that the government was deceiving the public by giving advertisements in all newspapers. The opposition expressed strong protest against the government and raised strong slogans during the Chief Minister’s speech.
The opposition also alleged that the work of the assembly was being carried out in violation of the rules. The opposition members protested by sitting at the entrance of the assembly and shouting slogans. The opposition then boycotted the assembly together. The opposition clarified that the declaration of an extreme poverty-free state is just political propaganda, and in reality, many families in the state are still living below the poverty line. With this, a strong political controversy has arisen in the state around the declaration of an extreme poverty-free state.
