Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Wayanad, Kerala, on Saturday to assess the aftermath of the devastating landslides that struck the region on July 30, resulting in over 200 deaths. The Prime Minister’s visit is aimed at reviewing the ongoing relief operations and coordinating with local authorities and rescue teams.
Ahead of Modi’s visit, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, reiterated his call for declaring the Wayanad disaster a national calamity. Gandhi’s demand has sparked a political controversy, with sharp reactions from the BJP, which has accused him of using the tragedy for political gain.
BJP General Secretary and spokesperson Anil Antony criticized the Congress for its perceived lack of awareness about the Central government’s protocols for handling natural disasters, as per a report on IANS. Antony highlighted that Rahul Gandhi, with his extensive experience as a parliamentarian and current position as Leader of the Opposition, should be more informed about the existing laws and procedures related to national calamities. He referred to past practices during the UPA government to argue that the central laws on natural disasters have been consistent.
Antony’s remarks also pointed out that the state government had been alerted about potential consequences due to torrential rains in the Western Ghats, indicating that the situation had been monitored and appropriate warnings were issued, according to the report.
In response to Gandhi's statements, Antony emphasized that the focus should be on effective relief and recovery rather than politicizing the disaster.
He said: "After the tragedy struck Wavanad central seams were quickly rushed to the landslide hit region for relief and rescue work But the Opposition's main focus is to distract people by building political narrative rather than engaging in quick rescue work."
He also questioned Rahul Gandhi's delayed visit to the landslide-hit area, a constituency he has represented since winning elections there in 2019 and 2024.