The ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) leaders in Kerala on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his failure to address the grief of cyclone-affected people in the state.
Stating that cyclone Ockhi had caused unbearable devastation across the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu resulting in hundreds of casualties, the leaders said that no social media messages were seen from the PMO sharing the grief of people.
Meanwhile, the PM found time to tweet about the cyclone only when it was expected to land in his home state, Gujarat on Tuesday, the leaders pointed out.
PM Modi’s tweet warned all the BJP Karyakartas to be on their guards as cyclone Ockhi was expected to make a landfall in Gujarat.
With #CycloneOckhi expected to make a landfall in Gujarat, I appeal to @BJP4Gujarat Karyakartas to focus on helping people across the state. Our Karyakartas should devote themselves to providing all possible assistance and stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow citizens.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 5, 2017
The PM also tweeted that his team was continuously monitoring the situation arising in various parts of the country due to Ockhi and possible assistance was being provided to those affected.
Continuously monitoring the situation arising in various parts of the country due to #CycloneOckhi. Spoke to all relevant authorities and officials. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 5, 2017
The Left leaders launched a searing attack against the PM, questioning his silence on the issue for so long.
CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said, “Instead of declaring Ockhi a national calamity, the PM remained mum all these days on the devastation caused by Ockhi in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There is a clear laxity on his part in personally acknowledging the sufferings of the people of the state. It is for him to say whether he is the PM of the country or the PM of Gujarat,” Deccan Chronicle reported.
CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran also criticized the PM for tweeting about Ockhi only when it was expected to hit the coastal belt of his home state Gujarat.
BJP state secretary K Surendran responded to the heated criticism against the PM saying, “Why did it take four days for CM Pinarayi Vijayan to visit the affected area which is just 20 km away from his office? Defense Minister Nirmala Sitaraman visited the affected area and coordinated the operations of Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force,” the DC report adds.