"Central govt trying to use disaster for political benefit": Pinarayi Vijayan on Wayanad landslide

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], December 9 (ANI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday slammed the Centre for allegedly trying to "politicise" the Chooralmala landslide disaster, which he described as one of the largest in the country.
"The Chooralmala landslide was one of the largest disasters in our country. The central government is trying to use this disaster for political benefit," he said.
Dismissing Union Home Minister Amit Shah's claim that the state government failed to submit a timely report on the disaster, the Chief Minister stated, "Union Home Minister has stated in the parliament that the state government did not submit a report on time. This is not true. "
Vijayan clarified that the state government had submitted a report on the disaster during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the affected area on August 10. A detailed report was also submitted on August 17, along with a request for a special package.
"PM visited the landslide area on August 10. That time itself the state government submitted the report of the disaster. On August 17 a detailed report was submitted and we demanded a special package. Three months after the PM's visit, no funds have been allotted," he said.
"The Home Minister was misleading people and ran away from its responsibility. The statement of Amit Shah that the Centre has not given funds because the state government did not submit a memorandum in time was factless. A 583-page report of post-assessment needs was submitted within three months after the disaster," the Chief Minister added.
On July 30, the state of Kerala was hit with a landslide, the deadliest one in the state, killing more than 300 people and destroying numerous houses and other buildings. The people were affected in Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas.
During his visit to Wayanad, PM Modi undertook an aerial survey of the landslide-affected areas before physically visiting the location of the disaster to review relief and rehabilitation efforts in the region. (ANI)