Kochi, Feb. 3 -- Slugfest has erupted over the remarks of Union minister of state (MoS) George Kurian stated that if Kerala wants more funds from the Centre, it must declare itself backward.

Kurian, originally from Kottayam and the MoS in charge of fisheries, animal husbandry and minority affairs at the Centre, made the remark while speaking to reporters in Delhi after the presentation of the Union Budget by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday.

"Let Kerala declare that it is backward and that it doesn't have good roads or good education systems. If you say that Kerala is backward in terms of education, social standards and infrastructure behind other states, the finance commission will prepare a report and submit it to the g...