Kerala's social indicators better than US: Congress

New Delhi, May 12 

The Congress on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jibe comparing Kerala to Somalia, contending the southern state's social indicators are better than many developed countries including the US.

"We know that in education, health, female literacy, women empowerment, infant mortality - in all matters of social development, Kerala is number one in the country - far, far ahead of Gujarat," senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told reporters here.

"Today the quality of life and social indicators of Kerala are better than most countries in the world including the United States," he said, accusing Modi of "making outrageous statements which 
must be condemned by all right-thinking Indians".

This prime minister makes statements that are blatantly false, he lies with the straight face and he lies because it is in his nature," he said, calling the comparison of Kerala to Somalia an "insult to all of India".