PM Modi to visit Kerala in Dec 14-15

Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kerala on December 14 and 15 for the first time after assuming the office.

Talking to reporters after a cabinet meeting here, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy confirmed the Prime Minister's visit, but said that details of the programme was yet to be received.

However, the state government has requested Prime Minister Modi to hold a meeting with state ministers to discuss various development projects of Kerala, Chandy said.

The Chief Minister said that state would take up the financial crisis faced by rubber growers following fall in price of natural rubber with the Centre during his visit to Delhi in December 9 to 11.

"All members of parliament from Kerala have been requested to be present in Delhi on these days. We will be meeting concerned Union Ministers to take up issues of Kerala," he said.

Chandy also pointed out Kerala based Rubber Board was without a chairman for the past several months and wanted Centre to appoint a new head for the agency.

The Board also has to be reconstituted immediately, Chandy said.

Centre should extend help to state from the Agriculture Price Stabilization Fund to help rubber growers, he said.