THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A joint meeting of KPCC and Congress parliamentary party office-bearers, PAC members and DCC presidents held here has called for the announcement of a special financial package for cyclone Ockhi-affected areas and victims, as well declaring the disaster a national calamity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is tipped to fly down and meet the coastal folk on Tuesday evening.
“The Congress expects the PM to declare the package during his visit,” KPCC president M M Hassan told reporters here. The UDF delegation led by Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala will also meet the Prime Minister.
The meeting came down heavily on both the state and union governments for the apathy maintained towards the cyclone-affected lot. It was pointed out the state government totally failed to share information or issue warnings regarding the cyclone to fishermen. “There was also an inordinate and unpardonable delay in launching effective rescue and relief operations,” Hassan said. “Twelve days after the mishap, the state government now says 300 fishermen are missing and a final combing in the sea is underway to fish out the last among the dead. The church, on the basis of information gathered through various parishes situated in the coastal belt of Poonthura and Vizhinjam, was insisting on a higher number of fishermen missing right from the beginning. But the government was holding on to a lesser figure till the other day. The state Revenue Department has not been able to give out the exact numbers even now.
The meeting said the Congress has underscored the kin of the deceased fishermen should be given Rs 25 lakh as compensation. “Contrary to an understanding reached with the Chief Minister at an all-party meeting, it is understood the government is speaking about only Rs 20 lakh now,” the meeting maintained. “We had told the Chief Minister irrespective of whether a dead fisherman was a member of the welfare board and eligible for benefits including insurance or not, Rs 25 lakh each should be given to the families of the victims. Also, a job for a member of the family of the deceased should be ensured.”
Meet criticises Centre, state
T’Puram: A high-level meeting of the KPCC has strongly deplored the attacks unleashed against priests and others who were on an Xmas carol service at Satna in Madhya Pradesh and slapping of cases against them, also demanding immediate action against those involved in the act.A political resolution moved at a meeting of the KPCC and the Congress parliamentary party office-bearers, also attended by DCC presidents and political affairs committee members, dealt at length on various issues having national and international ramifications as well as those pertaining to Kerala and registered its protest. Neglecting the birth centenary of former premier Indira Gandhi by the ruling BJP Government, statements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi charging the Congress with joining hands with Pakistan to torpedo the Gujarat polls, US President Donald Trump’s declaration approving Jesrusalem as the Israeli capital and resultant wrecking of peace in West Asia and India turning its back on Rohingyan refugees.