NEW DELHI: The Congress party announced on Tuesday its intention to stage protests, led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, both within and outside Parliament, to demand adequate Central assistance for the victims of the Wayanad landslide tragedy.
Kalpetta MLA and Congress leader T Siddique criticized the Centre for what he described as its “inhuman” refusal to provide financial aid to the affected areas. Siddique revealed that both he and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for assistance in the aftermath of the disaster.
“The apathy shown towards the people who have endured such a massive tragedy is inhuman,” Siddique said, as reported by PTI. He added that the Congress would escalate its protests in Parliament and across the country. “Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi will spearhead the agitation,” he told reporters.
Unified Appeal from Kerala
Both the CPI(M)-led LDF government and the Congress-led UDF opposition in Kerala have jointly urged the BJP-led Central government to declare the landslide a national disaster and expedite aid for rehabilitation. However, the Centre informed the state that current disaster relief guidelines do not allow for categorizing calamities as “national disasters,” sparking a political controversy.
The Wayanad Landslide Tragedy
The landslide, which occurred on July 30, devastated three villages—Punchirimattam, Chooralmala, and Mundakkai—as well as parts of Attamala. Official records show 231 fatalities, with 47 individuals still reported missing.
The lack of adequate assistance has intensified political tensions, with Congress vowing to continue its campaign until sufficient support is provided for the survivors.
