Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Monday rejected allegations of lapses in the government's disaster response and accused the Opposition of "attempting to gain political mileage" during the ongoing flood and landslide situation.
Addressing a press conference, Satheesan said all necessary preparations had been made well before the heavy rains, and there had been no shortcomings in rescue operations or the functioning of relief camps.
Rejecting the opposition's charge of negligence in disaster management, the Chief Minister said the government had convened pre-monsoon review meetings with district collectors and held further review meetings on July 30 and August 1 after weather warnings were issued.
"Relief camps were fully operational, and there were no complaints regarding camp management. The only challenge is that no one can precisely predict where such extremely localised rainfall will occur," he said.
The CM said claims that relief camps lacked facilities or medicines were "false" and accused some people of deliberately spreading misinformation during the disaster.
"There wasn't a single issue in even one relief camp. These allegations are based on misinformation being widely circulated through social media. In Aranmula, a party (CPI(M)) area secretary influenced a woman to make allegations before the media, but she later clarified the facts. Such mischief should not be created during a disaster," he said.
Responding to opposition criticism over attending a lunch programme while rescue operations were underway, Satheesan said the campaign against him was "defamatory and politically motivated".
The Chief Minister said he became aware of the disaster around 5 am on August 1 and immediately contacted the Revenue Minister, Chief Secretary, district ministers, district collectors and MLAs to review the situation.
"I asked all of them whether my physical presence was required anywhere and they told me there was no need. I therefore continued with my scheduled programme," he said.
Satheesan said he had lunch only at around 3 pm. in Ponnani after completing official engagements and remaining in constant touch with the administration.
"I did not know that during the 2018 and 2019 floods, the then Chief Minister had gone on a hunger strike. I simply went to eat food. I reached Ponnani only around 3 p.m. Now a campaign is being carried out saying that I committed a grave mistake by eating food," he said.
He also accused the Opposition of raising political issues while rescue operations were underway.
"My mistake, according to them, is that I ate food. But on that very day the Leader of the Opposition held a press conference raising political allegations on other issues while rescue operations were going on. Nobody questioned that," he said.
The Chief Minister also denied allegations that he had failed to coordinate rescue operations.
He said his office issued updates to the media every two to three hours and that the Revenue Minister had conducted two detailed media briefings explaining the deployment of NDRF teams, attempts to secure Navy helicopters and Coast Guard boats and other rescue measures.
"I coordinated everything. Where I sit and coordinate is my decision. Accurate information was being issued by my office every two to three hours and all rescue measures were explained by the Revenue Minister," he said.
Defending his use of a helicopter, Satheesan rejected allegations that it had been used for private purposes.
He said the recent journey was undertaken to meet a prospective investment group in Kochi after its schedule changed following a meeting with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.
"I had originally planned to travel by Vande Bharat train. But the investors informed us that they had to return to Delhi earlier than scheduled. Since Tamil Nadu was also competing for the investment, it was important that Kerala met them without delay," he said.
Satheesan said the helicopter had already been leased by the previous government at a monthly cost of Rs 80 lakh until September next year and the agreement required a minimum flying time.
"Not a single rupee of additional expenditure was incurred because of my journey. Whether I travelled or not, the government had to pay the lease amount. Since this government assumed office, the helicopter has been used only for my official visit to Wayanad and by two ministers. I have never used it to attend party conferences," he said.
