‘Rahul Gandhi is a tourist’; V Muraleedharan takes a jibe at MP for visiting constituency one week after elephant attack

NEW DELHI: Union Minister V Muraleedharan took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi MP for the delay in visiting his constituency after three people were trampled to death by a wild tusker in Wayanad.

‘Rahul Gandhi is a tourist. He should not visit his constituency as a tourist. Pinarayi Vijayan government is taking anti-democratic measures against the people of Wayanad. The family said the forest department did not provide adequate treatment to the watcher who died. We have not heard of a person trampled by the elephant being shifted from one medical college to another. Mananthavady Medical College is in name only. A hospital does not become a medical college just because a board is there. The board of medical college was kept in front of the taluk hospital,' said Muraleedharan.

‘The central government has guidelines to ensure adequate health services in places where there is wildlife attack. The forest minister should not sit and watch the TV. Why is Pinarayi Vijayan protecting a minister like this? The chief minister is in Kozhikode today. A PR exercise is on to brighten up the face,' alleged Muraleedharan.

Rahul Gandhi visited the homes of those killed in the elephant attack in Wayanad Sunday morning. He first visited the house of Ajeesh, trampled to death by the wild tusker Belur Magna. He later visited Paul's house. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal also accompanied Rahul Gandhi.

Ajeesh, a farmer and driver, was trampled to death by the elephant on February 10 at 7.30 am. Ajeesh ran to a nearby house seeing the elephant but when he fell down, the elephant came from behind and trampled him to death. The occupants of the house escaped unhurt. Belur Magna has not been captured yet.

Paul was killed on February 16. The elephant attacked him near Kuruva Island. Three people were killed in elephant attacks in the district in seventeen days. Locals protested yesterday with Paul's body.

Meantime, Forest Minister A K Saseendran responded that protests turning violent would complicate things. Some WhatsApp groups are aggravating the issue. It is not an allegation that I have not gone to Wayanad, it is a fact. He also clarified that to do things, there is no need to go to Wayanad. The minister added that he is not going to Wayanad now.