Kerala not among states that have fudged Covid figures: Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid rising Covid-19 case figures in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said those who raise baseless allegations should realise that the state is not on the list of those which have fudged their figures.

Vijayan's comment came in response to allegations from Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan, the sole Keralite in the Narendra Modi ministry, that Kerala is hiding figures.

"Those who raise baseless allegations should realise that these figures cannot be fudged, as if this is hidden, then such people who do not go for treatment will eventually die. Kerala is not there in the list of states, which have fudged their figures," said Vijayan.

Muraleedharan had earlier in the day said Kerala is first in withholding information and telling lies.

Vijayan also said: "What no one should forget is Kerala's mortality rate is 0.5 per cent, while the national average is 2.89 per cent. The Centre has acknowledged that Kerala is the first state in the country in having the least number in primary spread. Even the ICMR has applauded our efforts."

As on date, the state has 526 positive cases, with 84 cases registered on Thursday - the largest number of cases on a single day so far.