THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Kerala Chief Minister V D Sathisan on Thursday presented a white paper on the state’s financial health, triggering a war of words between the ruling and opposition front.
The LDF claimed that the document was created in violation of the Constitution, law and rules.
Former state finance minister KN Balagopal objected to the release of the document, saying it was prepared by private people with whom the government’s internal accounts should not be shared.
He claimed that this amounted to a violation of the oath of office, the Official Secrets Act and the Constitution.
Balagopal said that all white papers in the past were prepared by the Ministry of Finance and were a political document.
He said, “If this document is allowed to be presented, it will set a wrong precedent for the future.”
Similar allegations were made by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan who claimed that it was “surprising” and deeply worrying that the white paper had not been prepared by the Finance Ministry.
He also said that the opposition is not against the government seeking expert advice, but in the case of white papers, it is always prepared by the Ministry of Finance.
Vijayan was responding to Sathisean’s claim that Balagopal’s claims were baseless as no official internal secrets or government documents were shared with any common person.
The Prime Minister said the white paper was prepared under the “supervision and leadership” of the Ministry of Finance and was based on documents, such as the budget, that are in the public domain.
“It has been approved by the Council of Ministers and is not a political document. It can be placed in the Council with the permission of the Speaker of the Council and objections against it can then be considered. This is the usual practice,” he said.
Sathisan also wondered how Vijayan and Balagopal could claim that the white paper was a political document and that it was prepared in violation of the law, rules and the Constitution “without even seeing or reading it”.
“It is a status report on the financial health of the state. It has been prepared to inform the public about the economic situation in Kerala,” he said.
He said it would bust the various “myths” that some people have fabricated about the state’s financial situation.
Sathisan also explained that the government will seek expert advice wherever required, as it does not believe it knows everything.
He said the government would not follow the example of the previous administration or its policies because the people did not vote the United Democratic Front to power for that.
He added: “You were defeated because the people did not like your policies.”
After presenting both sides, Speaker Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan said, “The President has not found any violation of rules in submitting the white paper. It has become part of the records of the association.”
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