Central aid rakes up political storm
KOCHI/NEW DELHI: The Union government’s response to thwe crisis in Kerala, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of ₹500-crore financial aid to the state, triggered a backlash from the Opposition that accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of not doing enough.
“The PM must rise above political partisan game and come forward as a nation to help people of Kerala and other states affected by the flood,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala in Delhi.
Kerala leader of opposition, Congress’s Ramesh Chennithala, said the ₹500-crore aid announced by the PM was “too meagre in the face of such a calamity”.
CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishan, too, said the quantum of aid declared by the PM was “poor”.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office said in a tweet that the state had sought ₹2,000 crore. “The Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an assistance of ₹500 crore. CM had requested an immediate assistance of ₹2,000 crore. We express our thanks to Centre for the assistance,” the post said.
The BJP rejected the criticism, saying it was not the time to politicise the issue. “What the PM announced is interim relief. He has also announced help to reconstruct roads and houses. These two involve maximum expenditure.
It is not proper to blame the centre for the state government’s procrastination,” said state BJP general secretary K Surendran.