Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that any unconditional financial support from anywhere should be accepted, as it will bring solace to flood-hit Kerala.
Gandhi made the remark while speaking to reporters before beginning his second day trip to the flood-ravaged areas of the state.
He was responding to a question on India’s ‘rejection’ of funds to the tune of $100 million offered by the UAE government for flood relief work.
“My personal opinion is any unconditional offer of funds to reduce pain and sufferings should be taken,” said Gandhi.
On the question of the support from the Centre to the state, he said that it was sad that the Centre had not really supported the way Kerala wanted.
Read | Kerala Floods: Schools reopen on Wednesday after Onam vacation
“This is Kerala’s right and they should give more,” said Gandhi. Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to flood affected regions of Kerala, said he was not here for “politicising the situation.”
Gandhi arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday and visited half a dozen camps in the southern districts of the state, where the flood had hit hard.
Gandhi was scheduled to travel to the hilly district of Wayanad in north Kerala on Wednesday. However, due to bad weather it was cancelled and instead he opted to go to Idukki.
He said he had spoken to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan yesterday on the flood situation in the state.
Gandhi said the sense he had got from the relief camps he visited in various districts in the state yesterday was that the assistance promised by the state government should be delivered speedily.
“I think it is very important that the government gives the sense to the people that it is going to build houses, give a sense of potential timeline for doing that, I think there is need for counselling.
Read More | Google announces Rs 7 crore for Kerala, Karnataka rebuilding
“I also think that the compensation that has been promised, Rs 10,000 should be given speedily. There is a feeling in the camps that that has not been done yet,” he said.
Noting that Kerala has suffered a “tremendous tragedy,” the Congress president said his role was to be with the people of the state.
He had assured the flood-affected people yesterday that his party would bring pressure on the central and state governments to provide compensation which they ‘owe’ to the affected people.
Visiting the flood-ravaged areas of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts yesterday, he had also urged party workers to actively participate in relief and rehabilitation operations and help the people to make their ravaged houses liveable.
(With inputs from agencies)