Amidst confusion on whether United Arab Emirates had offered Rs 700 cr aid to India, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan insisted that there was no ambiguity as far as the offer of aid was concerned. Addressing a press meet, the Kerala CM said that the UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had communicated the same to Prime Minister Modi.
Pinarayi said that it was only after this conversation that PM posted a thank you message on Twitter.
As I explained earlier, Lulu Group Chairman MA Yussuf Ali spoke to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He offered 100 million dollars. The amount was mentioned to me and I repeatedly asked Yussuf if it can be made public, and he said yes,” Pinarayi said.
The Chief Minister said that he hoped the central government will change its stated policy and accept the aid. “I am hopeful the centre will accept it, I still believe so,” he said.
However, UAE has said that no amount had been discussed and only a committee had been formed to decide what aid can be given to Kerala.
Speaking to the Indian Express, UAE ambassador Ahmed Albanna said, “The assessment of relief needed for the flood and aftermath is ongoing. Announcing any specific amount as financial aid, I don’t think it is final, since it is still ongoing”.