Thiruvananthapuram, August 12: Former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sharply criticized the Satheeshan government for its handling of the recent rains and flooding. He questioned not only the administration’s response to the disaster but also the political sensitivity shown towards those who lost their homes and loved ones.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Vijayan expressed that it is unacceptable for ministers to take more than ten days to reach the homes of grieving families after a disaster. He argued that relief and rehabilitation efforts should not be confined to paperwork, government meetings, and official announcements, especially when families are still struggling to recover from their losses.
However, there are political motivations behind this criticism. It is not new for Vijayan to face scrutiny regarding disaster management during his time in office. When he was Chief Minister, Cyclone Ockhi caused significant devastation in Kerala’s coastal areas, leading to heavy criticism regarding the timing of his visits to affected regions.
This criticism was particularly intense as families of missing fishermen anxiously awaited answers. On that day, to avoid public anger, he had to return in a separate vehicle.
Wednesday’s press conference was not solely focused on the floods and the Satheeshan government. The ongoing Messi controversy also came up during the questioning. However, Vijayan did not provide an extensive explanation or political argument regarding this issue. He simply stated that nothing was amiss in the Messi case and that everything followed the predetermined script.
When he felt he had said enough, the microphone was turned off. During his decade in power, Vijayan rarely engaged with the media. However, after losing power and taking on the role of opposition leader, he now meets with the media at least once a week, sometimes even more frequently.
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