Wayanad disaster relief: Kerala govt asserting its right, not seeking charity, says minister
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan on Friday came down heavily on the Centre for withholding relief funds for the Wayanad landslide survivors and said that the state is asserting its right and not seeking charity.
The government has requested the Centre to declare the landslide that hit the Chooralmala and Mundakai regions in Wayanad a national disaster. However, they have not taken any action on listing the disaster in the category as per the NDRF norms and "intentionally neglecting the state," he said.
The minister accused the union government of deliberately delaying disaster relief to Kerala, describing it as a challenge to the state.
He pointed out that the Centre had failed to provide a clear response to Kerala’s requests for assistance.
Rajan also dismissed the union government's claim that funds are available in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), calling it misleading.
He said that the state would not accept the Centre’s stance and would continue to fight for Kerala’s rightful claims.
Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court will consider the case related to the Wayanad tragedy on Friday.
"The suo moto case registered by the High Court will come up before the court on Friday and we are looking for the stand of the union government in this regard," the minister said.
The disaster, which struck on July 30, devastated large parts of three villages --Punchirimattam, Chooralmala, and Mundakkai--along with sections of Attamala in Wayanad.
As per the government, the deadly disaster claimed 231 lives, while 47 people are still missing.
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Sharad Pawar confirms 2019 meeting with Amit Shah at Adani's residence, fueling political controvers
Mumbai: In an interview with NewsLaundry and The News Minute, NCP(SP) leader Sharad Pawar confirmed that a high-level meeting took place in 2019 at industrialist Gautam Adani’s residence in Delhi. Pawar stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present at the meeting.
The timing and location of this gathering have raised several questions, especially with Adani’s involvement in a political discussion. Ajit Pawar had earlier revealed that this meeting took place after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, where talks were held regarding a potential government alliance between BJP and NCP, and Adani was also in attendance.
Sharad Pawar has now acknowledged Ajit Pawar’s statement, affirming that the meeting did occur at Adani’s residence, though he noted that Adani was not actively involved in the political discussions.
This revelation has intensified political debates in Maharashtra, with opposition parties criticising the BJP over alleged ties with Adani. Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders have often claimed that the Modi government works in favour of industrialists like Adani and Ambani. This recent disclosure has added weight to those criticisms, sparking renewed discussions on Adani’s role and influence in BJP’s key decisions.
The opposition has questioned why a private industrialist’s residence was chosen for a political discussion and what role Adani had in the deliberations. This controversy comes amid ongoing campaigns for the upcoming Maharashtra elections scheduled for November 20.
