Kasaragod, Nov 18 (PTI) Despite the objection from opposition parties including the Congress, the Nava Kerala Sadas, an outreach programme led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues commenced on Saturday from the state's northern district of Kasaragod where it witnessed massive public participation.

The CM and the ministers reached the venue in a special bus to take part in the event held at the Manjeshwaram constituency.

Inaugurating the Nava Kerala Sadas, in which the whole state cabinet will be travelling together across the 140 constituencies of the state meeting the people, Vijayan said there are attempts to overshadow the achievements of the state.

Attacking the Union government over its various policies, Vijayan said it was 'financially strangulating the Left government'.

He said the people gave a second chance to the Left Front in the state after witnessing the massive change in the developmental aspects of Kerala.

'Meanwhile, attempts are being made at the national level to make our secular democratic country into a theocratic country. We are rich in diversity but we have a unity in diversity. That is being affected these days through the steps to make one language, one tax, one religion, one law among others,' Vijayan said.

He also pointed out various indices including the world hunger index and press freedom index in which the country is among the bottom of the list.

The senior Left leader also referred to the struggle of the Palestine people and said the children and women are being attacked there by Israel and the zionist terror forces.

Referring to the BJP's government's alleged pro-Israel stand, Vijayan said the Narendra Modi government was supporting Israel at the time of genocide.

'Children and women are being attacked by Israel and zionist terror forces. Our country had not recognised Israel as a nation. During our non-alignment movement, it was PLO leader Yasser Arafat who addressed the people along with Jawaharlal Nehru. We were supporting Palestine. But that stand was changed during the time of former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao,' Vijayan said.

The chief minister said the RSS and the BJP are supporting the zionists in Israel as they think alike.

Mentioning the boycott of the Nava Kerala Sadas by the opposition Congress party, Vijayan said it was an anti-democratic move.

Referring to the massive participation, the CM, during the inauguration, said it shows the success of the Nava Kerala Sadas.

'Since 2016, despite the financial constraints created by the Union government, the Left front government in Kerala has managed to implement various development projects in the state,' Vijayan said.

He also listed out the achievements of the state government since 2016.

However, the opposition Congress and the BJP criticised Vijayan and the ruling CPI(M) over the conduct of the Nava Kerala Sadas amidst financial crunch and dubbed the one month-long outreach programme as sheer extravagance.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan said the outreach programme should have been conducted after making it clear when the issues of the people would be resolved.

Satheesan asked what public issues the government is going to address when it has failed to resolve the dire economic crisis the state was facing and the problems faced by lakhs of ordinary people.

He also said in a statement that the people of the state would view the 'lavish tour' of CM Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues in the luxury bus with contempt.

Sharing similar views, BJP state chief K Surendran said the CM and his cabinet colleagues were carrying out a luxury trip while people are starving in the state.

In a statement, Surendran alleged that the ruling LDF was holding an election campaign in the name of the Sadas ahead in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls using money from the state exchequer.

The chief minister and the ministers were welcomed to the event by adorning them with a traditional headgear which has relevance to Kasargod district.

The state cabinet will be travelling together for the next 35 days addressing the public, listening to their grievances, showcasing the future development plans for Kerala and its achievements.

The government also plans for a swift resolution of public complaints received at the events.

The CMO has said that designated counters would accept complaints three hours before the start of the Nava Kerala Sadas, adhering to guidelines.

To facilitate a streamlined process, separate counters have been set up for senior citizens, differently-abled individuals, and women.

Chief Minister Vijayan expressed optimism about the outreach programme, emphasising Kerala's history of inclusive and sustainable development.

The outreach programme will conclude on December 23 at the Vattiyoorkavu constituency in Thiruvananthapuram. PTI RRT LGK RRT SS