DYFI Challenges Youth Congress to Release Records of Fund Collected for Building Houses for Wayanad Landslide Victims

Kozhikode: DYFI state president V Vaseef has demanded that the Youth Congress issue a public apology for misusing funds collected in the name of assisting victims of the Wayanad disaster.

Addressing a press conference in Kozhikode, Vaseef alleged that the Youth Congress has failed to provide any clarity regarding the houses it had promised to construct for the landslide victims. “As of now, there are neither houses nor any proper records of the funds collected. Even the mobile app launched for fundraising has disappeared,” he said, accusing the organization of misleading the public. He also released government orders and bank documents to support his claims.

Vaseef stated that DYFI had initially announced the construction of 25 houses in coordination with the state government, while the then state president of the Youth Congress had later declared that their organization would build 30 houses.

Highlighting DYFI’s efforts, he said party workers collected funds through grassroots efforts, raising ₹20 crore for the construction of 100 houses, which was handed over to the government’s township project. He added that DYFI is ready to verify its financial records in the presence of representatives suggested by Opposition Leader V D Satheesan.

Vaseef added that DYFI also provided LED televisions to all houses handed over in the first phase of the government’s township project.

In contrast, he stated that the Youth Congress has failed to answer key questions regarding its fundraising: whether sufficient funds were collected for the promised 30 houses, whether the project will ever be implemented, and why there is no transparency. “If the project could not be completed, they should at least have the decency to apologize to the disaster victims,” he said.

He also criticized statements made by opposition leaders, adding that claims about the government not allocating land for housing projects were false. Vaseef pointed out that in meetings convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, cost estimates for houses were discussed, but opposition leaders had not raised demands regarding land allocation at the time.

He further alleged that Congress leaders symbolically laid a foundation stone on a piece of land ahead of the assembly elections without any follow-up action, a matter that has since been reported by sections of the media.

Vaseef concluded by urging the media to question Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the total amount collected by the Congress and Youth Congress in the name of Wayanad relief.