Kerala leaders fume

Indian govt angers flood-hit state by refusing to accept US$100mil aid from UAE. >34

Kochi ( india): Leaders of flood-stricken Kerala state have angrily hit out at India’s national government for rejecting a US$100mil (RM410mil) aid offer from the United Arab Emirates as more people entered relief camps to escape the devastation.

More than 1.3 million people have now packed into temporary camps even though the floods, which have left at least 420 dead and missing, are fast receding.

The New Delhi government infuriated the Kerala administration by rejecting the cash offer from the wealthy Gulf state.

Kerala’s Finance Minister Thomas Isaac yesterday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of adopting a “dogin-the-manger” policy by refusing the money.

The communist minister added in a Twitter attack that if the right wing national government takes a “negative stance” on the UAE offer “they should compensate Kerala”. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for “high level” talks with the national government on the dispute.

There are an estimated three million Indians in the UAE, with many from Kerala which has a large Muslim population.

India’s foreign ministry announced late Wednesday however that the government would stick to its policy of “meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts” and not accept money from foreign governments.

It added that outside money could only be donated through Indian-origin individuals or foundations.

India has a record of refusing foreign aid after disasters, turning down foreign help after the 2004 tsunami, which killed thousands in India.

Experts said Indian governments want to prove they can handle any emergency themselves.