Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday unleashed a series of allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister for Environment and Forest Bhupender Yadav for making unsubstantiated charges against Kerala for last Tuesday’s landslide in Wayanad that reportedly claimed more than 400 lives.
“Though Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were the first callers following the landslides and they ensured all possible help in the recue and relief operations, the central government made a volte-face and started blaming the State Government. Union Minister Yadav went one step further and humiliated those who lost their lives in the natural disaster. He alleged that those who died in the landslide and flood were encroachers,” said Vijayan while addressing a specially convened press meet on Tuesday evening at Thiruvananthapuram.
He alleged that the Centre was forcing scientists and environmental experts to publish reports blaming the Kerala Government for the natural disasters. “I have seen copies of letters by the Centre asking the scientists to come out with allegations against the State administration,” said the chief minister. He repeatedly said that union forest minister’s charge was despicable and deplorable.
The Chief Minister said that the landslide and illegal quarrying are no way linked to each other. “The nearest place where quarrying is happening is 10 km from the epicenter of the spot where the landslide took place. The Central Government is playing cheap politics on the natural disaster,” said Vijayan.