Protest of MPs from Kerala

MPs from Kerala have decided to launch a joint protest in Delhi against the Centre's neglect of Kerala's needs. The decision was taken at a meeting of MPs called by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Chief Minister called the meeting ahead of the winter session of the Parliament which will commence this week.

The main issue discussed at the meeting was the delay in central assistance for providing compensation and rehabilitation to those who lost their homes and belongings in the recent landslides in Wayanad. The LDF and UDF MPs are planning to stage a joint protest, both inside and outside Parliament, to highlight the issue. They will decide on the specifics of the protest outside Parliament in Delhi. Notably, BJP MPs did not attend the meeting.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister said that the Centre had provided necessary assistance for rescue operations and restoration of transport facilities immediately after the disaster. The Chief Minister's revelation proves that the criticism that the Centre has not yet provided any assistance to the Wayanad disaster is wrong. The state had thanked the Centre for the help it provided in the first phase. The reason behind the upcoming Delhi protest is the Centre's inaction on providing special financial aid to landslide-hit Wayanad. Kerala had sought Rs 1,202 crore in aid for disaster relief efforts. The state is complaining that despite submitting a petition in this regard four months ago, it has not received a positive response from the Centre till now. Kerala must explore both protest and diplomatic channels to secure financial aid from the Centre.

Tasks that need to be resolved at the administrative level should be completed with maximum efficiency. Since even the Prime Minister has personally visited and acknowledged the disaster, the central government cannot afford to delay financial assistance for too long. To foster the relationship between the central and state governments, it is essential to avoid the political propaganda that portrays aid as something gained through protests. Kerala must recognize that prioritizing political confrontations often leads to issues remaining unresolved and dragging on indefinitely. The central government's negative approach to Kerala's railway development has been a recurring topic of discussion in MP meetings. However, there's a lingering criticism that MPs are not taking proper follow-up actions on this issue.

In the last meeting of MPs, it was decided to submit a joint petition for AIIMS and a Rs 24,000 crore special package. The follow-up on this needs to be investigated. To secure more central assistance, the state government must formulate strategies that move beyond conventional methods. Kerala has been waiting for AIIMS for several years. The state has even acquired 200 acres of land in Kinaloor in Kozhikode for this. To make this a reality, Kerala's MPs need to stand united and exert pressure on the central government. With Kerala's central allocation and grants significantly reduced, the meeting of MPs has once again demanded a Rs 24,000 crore special package for the state. BJP MPs from Kerala should also strive to ensure that the central government takes sympathetic and prompt action regarding Wayanad.