Pinarayi Vijayan accuses Kerala CM of insulting coastal community through ‘callous’ remarks about their plight

Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan accused Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan of insulting the coastal community with disparaging remarks about their suffering during recent rainstorms that resulted in missing fishers at sea. Vijayan criticized Satheesan's callous statement that fisherfolk had gone missing "before" the current administration, implying the government was not responsible for their plight.

Satheesan's comparison of death tolls between past and present administrations, according to Vijayan, showcased a lack of empathy. The Leader of the Opposition also slammed Satheesan's claim that the previous UDF government was the first to deploy helicopters, drones, and military aircraft for marine search and rescue, labeling it a "mockery of truth" that insulted the coastal community's intelligence.

Vijayan further criticized Satheesan for his dismissive attitude towards the disaster response, pointing out the government's failure to coordinate timely relief, rescue, and rehabilitation in affected regions. The Leader of the Opposition claimed that relief camps lacked essential facilities, and social media accounts operated by the UDF disparaged survivors for standing up for their rights.

The distraught fisher families were left waiting for extended periods for search operations to commence, and their grief was compounded by the government's delayed response. Vijayan emphasized the need for emotional closure and financial assistance, including jobs, compensation for lost boats, and funding for their children's education.