Rajnath promises all help for Kerala, MPs want foreign aid
New Delhi, Aug 30 : Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday assured a delegation of Kerala MPs that the Centre will provide all possible help after the delegation said foreign assistance should be allowed to reach the flood-ravaged state.
The worst floods to devastate Kerala in nearly a century have left 483 people dead, displaced thousands and destroyed property on a massive scale.
The Minister's assurance came after 11 Kerala MPs belonging to the Congress, CPI-M, RSP, Kerala Congress (Mani) and an independent apprised him about the situation in the state and demanded more support from the Modi government.
The MPs urged Rajnath Singh to allow foreign assistance to the state as the Centre, citing a 2004 government decision, had turned down a reported offer of Rs 700 crore from the United Arab Emirates.
The delegation included A.K. Antony, K.V. Thomas, K.C. Venugopal, K. Suresh, Anto Antony, M. K. Raghavan (all Congress), P. Karunakaran and P.K. Biju (CPI-M), N.K. Premachandran (RSP), Jose K. Mani (Kerala Congress Mani) and Joice George (CPI-M-backed Independent).
"A delegation of MPs from Kerala met me in New Delhi on the flood situation in the state. I assured them that the Centre was providing all possible help to Kerala," Rajnath Singh tweeted.
After the meeting, Antony said all parties are united on rebuilding Kerala.
"We have demanded more funds for the state. We also urged him to waive the restriction on foreign assistance. The Home Minister has assured us that he will speak to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over the issue," Antony told reporters.
The Centre has so far allotted Rs 600 crore to Kerala for flood relief.
A Union Home Ministry official said a central team was expected to visit Kerala soon to assess the damage caused and a decision on Central assistance would be taken after it submitted its report.
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Karnataka MLC Nazir Ahmed visits Ajman Ruler’s Court, Thumbay Medicity
Ajman, UAE: Karnataka Legislative Council member and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Nazir Ahmed, visited the Ajman Ruler’s Court and Thumbay Medicity, strengthening ties between Karnataka and the UAE.
At the Ruler’s Court, Ahmed met Sheikh Dr. Majid bin Saeed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Court, to discuss avenues for collaboration in healthcare, education, and research. He extended an invitation to Sheikh Majid to visit Bengaluru and proposed a future delegation of high-level officials from Karnataka to Ajman and Thumbay Medicity.
As part of the visit, Ahmed toured Thumbay Medicity’s state-of-the-art healthcare, medical education, and research facilities. Praising the institution’s achievements, he described it as a global hub for healthcare excellence.
Commending the efforts of Dr. Thumbay Moideen, founder and president of Thumbay Group, Ahmed acknowledged his role in establishing Thumbay Medicity as a leader in the field. “It is a matter of immense pride to witness Dr. Thumbay’s remarkable progress and the iconic achievements of Thumbay Medicity,” he said.
Dr. Thumbay expressed gratitude for the visit, emphasizing the importance of collaborations that benefit both the UAE and India. “This visit marks a significant milestone in strengthening our shared vision for excellence in healthcare and education,” he stated.
Thumbay Medicity in Ajman is known for its advanced healthcare services, cutting-edge medical education, and pioneering research. It continues to gain global recognition as a model for integrated healthcare and education.
