The Centre’s stand that Kerala should first withdraw its suit in the Supreme Court to be issued money is tantamount to blackmail and choking the State financially, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Balagopal accused the Union government of putting pressure on the State to withdraw the suit, especially when its financial commitments are higher towards the end of a financial year. Kerala is entitled to the approximately ₹13,000 crore that the Centre has agreed to release in return for withdrawing the suit, he said.
Also read: Kerala | A protest and a predicament
