Govt deceives public with election-time announcements: Satheesan

Kottayam: As election approaches, govt is making announcements to deceive the public, opposition leader V D Satheesan said, while addressing the media at UDF's Puthu Yuga Yatra in Kottayam on Wednesday.Satheesan said LDF govt was now promising to do things they neglected for 10 years. The first was the pay revision commission, which was announced at a time when it should have been implemented after the initial announcement in 2024. By the time the commission submits the report, the next govt will be in place. Govt was trying to impose the financial burden on the new govt, he added.
On increasing the age limit for PSC exams, Satheesan said, it was done at the fag end of govt's tenure. "Despite being included in the rank list, many candidates were not appointed. They protested in front of the Secretariat and still no action was taken. Meanwhile, state govt set a record for backdoor appointments. Thousands were appointed in all departments, including the CM's, undermining reservations. Those who made employment exchanges redundant are now announcing the extension of PSC age limit," he said. On tanthri Kandararu Rajeevaru's arrest in the Sabarimala gold heist issue, the opposition leader said, SIT did not disclose the reason behind the arrest. "The day after tanthri's arrest, the opposition had said that SIT has a responsibility to tell the public about his role in the case. Even if a former minister is arrested, the reason should be stated, but it was not. Even the remand report was unclear. The court said tanthri was arrested without a shred of evidence. So, the arrest was to divert attention from the investigation," he said. Satheesan said this incident confirms that CMO was pressurising SIT. Without filing a preliminary chargesheet, SIT created an environment for the accused to get natural bail. The opposition fears that if the accused were released, they will destroy the evidence and escape. The Congress leader also came down heavily on govt's pension increase. "In 2021, they promised to increase the pension from Rs 1,600 to Rs 2,500, however, until now, not a single penny was added. But, just before the election, they increased it by Rs 400. Poor people voted for them, hoping for a Rs 900-rupee increase, but govt deceived them," he said. "The finance minister mocked my statement that the treasury is empty. If the treasury is not empty, why are bills below Rs 5 lakh not being passed in local bodies? They are only collecting cheques below Rs 5 lakh without disbursing funds. There are many places where payments are due. While Kerala led in inflation for 12 months, Supplyco, which should intervene in the market, is owed Rs 1,200 crore. Yet, they claim the financial situation is stable and that the state is an investor's paradise," he said. Satheesan said, the CM announced an Rs 18,000 crore package for Kattappana bus stand, in Idukki and not even Rs 20 crore was provided. A Rs 12,000 crore package was announced for the coastal area, but not a penny was spent. A Rs 7,000 crore package was announced for Wayanad, but not a penny was spent. "Despite Justice J B Koshy's commission submitting its report in 2023, what did govt do for three years? The report has not even been published yet. They announced the implementation of recommendations only after strong protests. They know well that they will not have to implement the report. The govt is deceiving people at the last minute," he said.