New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has sharply criticized the central government for its lackluster response to the victims of the devastating landslides that struck Wayanad, Kerala, in 2024. Speaking to the media on the third day of her visit to her parliamentary constituency, she highlighted how local organizations and political parties stepped up while New Delhi dragged its feet on financial assistance.
Priyanka pointed out that despite repeated appeals in Parliament, letters to the Prime Minister, and meetings with the Home Minister, the Centre failed to deliver the promised support. ‘The government neither released adequate funds nor declared it a national calamity, even after our persistent demands,’ she remarked, expressing deep disappointment.
It was only after relentless pressure from the opposition that the disaster was classified as severe, yet financial aid remains woefully inadequate, she added. On a positive note, she praised the Indian National Congress’s initiative to build 100 homes for the affected, with construction kicking off in the presence of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
During her visit, Priyanka also attended a key handover ceremony in Thrikkaypetta, where the Indian Union Muslim League distributed keys to homes built for Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide victims. ‘This is a collective effort deserving applause from all political parties,’ she said, underscoring the bravery of local volunteers who launched rescue operations even before government machinery fully activated.
Her day included inspections of vital infrastructure projects like the Churum Bypass Road in Chippilithod and the proposed Barakuppe Bridge site in Sultan Bathery, signaling her commitment to the region’s development amid ongoing recovery efforts. Priyanka’s outspoken critique underscores growing tensions between the opposition and the ruling dispensation over disaster management.