CM's Responsibility Goes Beyond One or Two Phone Calls, Says M V Govindan

Kozhikode: CPI(M) State Secretary M V Govindan has alleged that Chief Minister V D Satheesan failed to coordinate rescue operations or visit people affected by the severe monsoon disaster despite the worsening situation across Keralam.

“Despite having all the facilities at his disposal, the Chief Minister has not even visited the control centre coordinating disaster management operations,” Govindan said.

He said the Chief Minister’s responsibility goes beyond one or two phone calls.

“The Chief Minister appears to be giving greater importance to attending luncheons and inaugurating jewellery stores than to meeting people affected by the disaster. He later repeated in his press conference that this was his way of functioning. He has adopted an attitude that mocks people who have lost everything in disaster-hit areas,” Govindan said.

Media reports had stated that the Chief Minister travelled by helicopter to visit his father-in-law, who was undergoing treatment in a hospital. However, he later said that the trip was undertaken to meet an investor whose identity could not be disclosed, Govindan said.

“Kerala has a Chief Minister who cannot find peace without telling at least one lie. He has now come up with another lie—that revealing the investor’s name would reduce the possibility of investment and that this is why the name cannot be disclosed,” he alleged.

He demanded that the CM reveal the details of the meeting, stating that the visit was not included in the official tour programme or the route schedule of government vehicles.

“During the previous government’s tenure, helicopters were used to address people’s hardships. Now, they are being used for private purposes. The Chief Minister agreed to visit relief centres only after public protests intensified,” Govindan said.

He said CPI(M) workers had been instructed to join rescue and relief operations after red alerts were issued in eight districts, orange alerts in four districts and yellow alerts in two districts.

Party workers should ensure that disaster-affected people receive food, drinking water and essential supplies and should help move residents of vulnerable areas to safer locations, he said.

Govindan also raised concerns over shortages of drinking water, food, electricity and essential supplies at several relief camps.

“During a visit to the relief camp at Providence College in Kozhikode on Monday, residents said that no proper accommodation arrangements had been made. Around 250 people were being housed in a single hall. They said they had no proper place to sleep or even basic items required for their daily needs,” he said.

Govindan urged the government to provide the necessary facilities and appealed to party workers and the public to extend all possible assistance.

He alleged that the government had failed at every stage, including issuing warnings, conducting rescue operations, managing relief camps and carrying out post-disaster cleaning. He also called for special vigilance to prevent outbreaks of communicable diseases.

M V Govindan said complaints by the families of fishermen who went missing at sea were serious. The families had alleged that the government had failed to conduct an effective search operation or seek assistance from the Indian Navy.

He demanded that ministers stop making irresponsible remarks and intensify the search for the missing fishermen.