India, June 2 -- Kerala finance minister KN Balagopal accused the BJP-led Union government of bias and violating federal principles after the latter permitted the Maharashtra government to accept foreign donations for the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).

On Sunday, the Kerala FM told reporters that while the state was not opposed to Maharashtra getting foreign aid to deal with impact of natural disasters, the law must be made equal for all states. He pointed out that the Union government had denied permission to Kerala to accept foreign aid in the backdrop of the century's worst floods in 2018 even as other countries like UAE were ready with offers to help.

"It is a good thing for any state, dealing with disasters, to get ...