UDF plans to hold marches at post offices in Kalpetta, Mananthavady, and Sultan Bathery this morning, while the LDF will organise demonstrations throughout Wayanad, including in Kalpetta town.
Published Nov 19, 2024 | 10:29 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 19, 2024 | 10:29 AM
Rescue and relief operations at Wayanad landslide. (Supplied)
The LDF and UDF in Kerala on Tuesday, 20 November, jointly organised a hartal in the Wayanad district in the state in response to the alleged lack of adequate support for the victims of the landslide disaster at Chooralmala and Mundakkai.
It began at 6 am and is set to continue until 6 pm.
The UDF is protesting the failure of both the Union and Kerala governments in properly addressing the disaster’s aftermath, while the LDF is voicing its opposition to the Union government’s refusal to classify the Wayanad landslide as a national disaster.
UDF plans to hold marches at post offices in Kalpetta, Mananthavady, and Sultan Bathery this morning, while the LDF will organise demonstrations throughout Wayanad, including in Kalpetta town.
Earlier, Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal and state Congress President K Sudhakaran had condemned the Union government’s refusal to declare the landslides a national disaster and termed the action discriminatory and politically motivated.
Balagopal criticised the Union government’s stance as “gross injustice” toward Kerala, accusing it of a calculated disregard for Malayalis.
Congress’ candidate in the recently polled Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, said the Union government’s action was an injustice to those who suffered unimaginable loss.
Meanwhile, during a hearing in the Kerala High Court on Friday regarding the landslides, the lawyer representing the Union government said the High Level Committee meeting to categorise the disaster did not happen yet and that a decision would be taken soon.
The matter was posted for further hearing on 22 November.
With the winter session of Parliament set to commence on 25 November, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly VD Satheesan said that UDF MPs from Kerala will strongly protest against the Union government’s neglect of Wayanad disaster victims.
As the UDF and LDF intensified their criticism, BJP’s state president for Kerala K Surendran presented a counter-narrative, alleging that the state government has undermined the rehabilitation process.
Surendran accused the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government of failing to convene an all-party meeting even four months after the disaster, despite the urgency of the situation.
