Centre adopting vindictive stand towards state: CM

TNN & Agencies
Kozhikode: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at the Centre for delaying aid for rehabilitation of Wayanad landslide survivors and accused it of adopting a vindictive stand towards the state. At the inauguration of a memorial for Cheemeni martyrs in Kasaragod on Sunday, Vijayan said what Union home minister Amit Shah said in response to the representation provided by Kerala MPs was a lie.
"The state faced several disasters since 2016, but the Centre has not provided a single paisa. The Union minister has in response to the plea by Kerala MPs faulted the state. The initial focus was on rescue efforts and only later was the loss assessment carried out as per guidelines. The state completed it within the stipulated time and still Centre is faulting the state. Not a single paisa was given to the state. Why is it so? Isn't Kerala a part of the country? Why is there ostracism against Kerala only?" he asked.
Vijayan said that the Centre was holding a grudge against the state for rejecting BJP.
Earlier in Kochi, finance minister KN Balagopal criticized the Centre for demanding payment for the relief and rescue operations done by the Indian Air Force during Wayanad landslides. He said the move added chilli to the wounds of the state that is burdened by the aftermath of the disaster. Balagopal said Centre failed to provide even the funds it had promised for disaster relief and added that this move was akin to mocking the people of Kerala.
He questioned the stance of BJP leaders, including Union minister Suresh Gopi and BJP leader V Muraleedharan, on this issue.
Balagopal made these remarks in response to queries regarding a letter dated Oct 22, 2024, titled ‘Settlement of Outstanding Airlift Charges', received by the office of then-chief secretary, V Venu on Nov 2. It had details of unpaid bills, with over Rs 100 crore pertaining to rescue operations during the 2018 floods and over Rs 13 crore for IAF operations after the landslides in Wayanad.
BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticized the LDF govt, claiming that it was creating a ‘row' over the letter. He wrote on social media platform ‘X', "Reimbursement of costs to @IAF_MCC for relief operations is routinely done by ALL state govts. But for @pinarayivijayan's govt that has a budget of 2 Lac crs/year it bcms a ‘row' why?".