New Delhi: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed disappointment with prime minister Narendra Modi's response to the state's demand for increased share of ration items. “The prime minister insists that the Centre will provide only the share stipulated under the Food Safety Act,” he said.

Talking to the media after leading an all-party delegation to the prime minister for the first time, Pinarayi said no assurance could be obtained on the proposed railway coach factory at Kanjikode. “The Centre has taken the stand that there is no need for another coach factory.”

The Sabarimala-Angamaly rail line is a public need for Kerala, he said, adding that talks between the state and the Railways have been promised. “The Centre says the Sabari line can be done if the state acquires land for it.”

“We've demanded final decision on the Kasturirangan report,” Pinarayi said after the meeting held at Parliament House.

The Centre has assured necessary help to handle rain havoc, he said.

The food grain ration share that Kerala used to receive was slashed from 16 lakh metric tonnes to 14.25 lakh metric tonnes after the Food Safety Act was enforced. “Our main demand was that it should be restored to the original level. Food grains were given to Kerala in higher measure because we cultivate cash crops in excess.”

Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala, members of parliament Jose K Mani, N K Premachandran and E T Muhammad Basheer were among those who attended the talks.

During the meeting, Modi handed over a list of projects for which the Centre had allocated funds but which had not been used.

He also expressed his unhappiness that the lone Keralite union minister, Alphons Kannanthanam, was not included in the delegation.

Pinarayi's reaction

The discussions that the all-party delegation had with Modi were disappointing. The prime minister reacted negatively to the demand for increase in ration share, asserting that nothing more than what is provided to other states could be sanctioned.

We had a hope about the coach factory until the last moment. However, the Centre has taken the stand that there is no need for another coach factory.

The prime minister has assured that talks could be facilitated on the Sabarimala-Angamaly railway line which is a public need.

What the opposition says

The prime minister evaded clear answers. Several issues were raised, but a favourable response wasn't available on anything.

We came to the talks as part of an all-party delegation because common needs of Kerala were to be presented. As for Hindustan Newsprint Limited, the Centre's stand is obvious from the suggestion that the state government should also participate in the tender. How would the state government do it, asked Ramesh Chennithala.

BJP's response

The delegation went to meet the prime minister with a cooked up memorandum under the leadership of the prime minister. BJP state general secretary A N Radhakrishnan alleged that he got the subject list only Wednesday morning.

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