Thiruvananthapuram, Feb. 9 -- Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the Centre, accusing it of hypocrisy over its "demand to scrap the state's Rs 6.31 per kg paddy bonus".

In a post on X, Vijayan said it was unacceptable that corporate debts are routinely waived while a modest incentive for farmers who produce food is portrayed as a burden.

"The Union Govt's demand to scrap Kerala's Rs.6.31/kg paddy bonus, labeling food production a 'liability', is an affront to our farmers. While corporate debts are waived, a small incentive for those who feed us is viewed as a burden- this hypocrisy is unacceptable. Is this the first step toward opening our markets for US agricultural products under the new trade deal? Finance Minister mus...