In a pointed critique of the central government’s response to one of Kerala’s worst natural disasters, CPI Rajya Sabha MP P. Sandosh Kumar has written a scathing letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The letter, penned amid ongoing recovery efforts in Wayanad, accuses New Delhi of gross insensitivity by withholding special financial assistance following the devastating July 2024 landslides.
The tragedy unfolded on July 30, 2024, when torrential rains triggered massive landslides in Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Meppadi areas of Wayanad district. Over 400 lives were lost, hundreds injured, and thousands left homeless. The destruction wiped out homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure, with damages estimated in the hundreds of crores.
Kumar reminds Shah that this catastrophe demanded immediate, unconditional support from the Centre and the National Disaster Management Authority. Despite repeated pleas from Kerala MPs, including his own interventions in Parliament and the state government’s requests, no special relief package has materialized. ‘This is shocking apathy toward the victims,’ the MP states bluntly.
Undeterred by the Centre’s reluctance, Kerala’s LDF government rallied with public support to spearhead rehabilitation. Despite fiscal constraints, they’ve nearly completed model housing colonies equipped with all amenities, community facilities, and livelihood programs. These are set to be handed over to affected families within 18 months. Kumar recently inspected the sites with LDF leaders and attached photos to his letter as evidence.
The MP alleges that offering aid only as loans reveals the BJP’s political limitations. He claims Kerala faces economic pressure because it rejects the BJP’s agenda, turning disaster relief into a tool for coercion. ‘Federalism thrives when relief transcends politics and upholds constitutional duties,’ Kumar asserts.
In his appeal, Kumar urges Shah and the NDA government to reconsider this biased stance, embracing fairness, federal responsibility, and human compassion. Kerala’s resilience under LDF leadership stands as a testament to its self-reliance, even against central indifference.