The Assembly registered its protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday for denying permission to an all-party delegation to meet and apprise him of the gravity of the drought and hitches in the statutory rationing system.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the House that an all-party meeting held here to discuss the drought and problems in the public distribution system had decided to meet Mr.Modi on March 20 or 21 and it was communicated to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The office informed that Mr. Modi had a busy schedule and the delegation could meet either Home Minister Rajnath Singh or Finance Minister Arun Jaitely.
Earlier too, Mr. Modi had turned down a request from the State to meet him to discuss the problems thrown up by demonetisation.
Mr.Vijayan described it as a challenge to democracy and federal set up of the country.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said that all former Prime Ministers used to positively respond to similar requests from the States and the denial of appointment amounted to insulting the people of Kerala.
The Assembly should protest against the decision, he said.
Political motive
Lone Bharatiya Janata Party member said that there was a political motive in accusing Mr.Modi of refusing to meet the delegation. Mr.Modi had only said that he would not be free on the two days suggested by the State government and, hence, proposed to meet the two Ministers instead.
He registered his protest against the observations of the ruling and Opposition members against Mr.Modi.
Minister for Public Works G.Sudhakaran, who raised a point of order, said the Prime Minister cannot delegate his powers to Ministers and requested Mr.Rajagopal to desist from making such comments.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy described it as a challenge to the federal system and said that no Prime Minister, including Jawaharlal Nehru, had denied permission for such all-party delegations to meet him.
Speaker P.Sreeramakrishnan said that the State government should convey the Assembly’s sentiment in this regard to the Centre.
