Kerala Govt Raps US Prez, Centre in Budget Speech

Thiruvananthapuram: The final full budget of the second Pinarayi Vijayan government, presented in the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Friday by State Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal, took sharp aim at newly elected US President Donald Trump and the Union Government. Taking aim at Trump, Balagopal remarked, “The world is navigating a complex and uncertain phase. In many regions, democracy has crumbled, and governance has weakened. The rhetoric of autocracy and dictatorship has crossed all boundaries of political and social dignity.”

Criticizing Trump’s policies and statements, he added, “A man who claims the Panama Canal as his own, talks of annexing Greenland, and suggests evacuating Gaza to turn it into a tourist destination now leads the world’s most powerful nation. Fear, hatred, and war mongering are on the rise. Many worry that this signals a return to the dark times of world wars and colonial oppression. These global developments will inevitably impact our nation as well.”