BJP accuses CPI(M), Cong of using Wayanad landslide for political gains

PTI Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP in Kerala on Tuesday accused the ruling CPI(M) and the Opposition Congress of using the Wayanad landslide tragedy for their political gains. The CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-headed UDF are holding hartal separately today to protest against the lack of Central assistance for the landslide victims in the mountain district even months after the disaster. Terming the hartal as "drama", the saffron party alleged that it was being staged with an intention to stop BJP's good show in the November 20 bypoll in Palakkad.

Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP leader and former union minister V Muraleedharan strongly rejected the allegations of the CPI(M) and the Congress over the lack of Central assistance to the landslide survivors. He charged that the "INDIAlliance" was unleashing a false campaign against the union government over "additional" Central assistance to Wayanad. The Centre has never said that it won't provide "additional" financial assistance but the landslide tragedy is being used for political gains (in the state), he said. He sought to know from the CPI(M) whether its government has submitted the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report in connection with the landslide. Muraleedharan further alleged that the Congress, who had distributed worminfested rice to the landslide survivors in Meppadi in Wayanad, wouldn't have the courage to ask this.

He said state Revenue Minister K Rajan is also keeping mum on the matter. The respective states, which claimed to have received the Central aid, got the assistance after considering the PDNA reports ubmitted by them, he explained.