The LDF government has set its sights high, rolling out projects with a view to becoming numero uno among Indian States in economic growth as well as welfare, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has said.
“We have always placed thrust on welfare, which has resulted in impressive strides in health and education sectors and rise in lifespan. But with projects like GAIL pipeline and single-window system for clearances, the State will ascend at least 10 positions on the index for ease of doing business,” he said while inaugurating the concluding event of the southern leg of the Jana Jagratha Yatra led by CPI State secretary Kanam Rajendran.
Drawing attention to the government’s move to ensure hassle-free treatment for accident victims in the golden hour, Mr. Isaac said the government also intended to make free and effective treatment available to poor patients suffering from critical ailments.
He launched a scathing attack on the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular, for the demonetisation drive and the “shoddy implementation” of GST, which, he said, sent the prices of commodities skyrocketing.
“The economy, already on a downward spiral, is sure to go down further,” the Minister added. While Kerala wants to take up the issue of some 150 companies overpricing their brands post-GST with the Centre, which had promised to set up a committee to look into such irregularities, it had failed to constitute any such committee, Mr. Isaac said, adding: “Absence of proper infrastructure has sent e-filing of returns off track too.”
He said only some corporates and big traders had huge windfall gains from the shoddy implementation of GST, he observed.
Raps communal politics
Dr. Isaac came down heavily on the communal politics practised by the BJP and told the Congress that the Left parties did not want anybody’s certificate for its fight against communal forces led by the BJP-RSS combine.
“The Congress, which is now taking out its ‘Padayorukkam’ against the Left, will only have time to defend former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy after November 9, the day the Assembly holds a special session on the Solar Commission report,” he said.
