Congress Misleading Public on Wayanad Rehab Claims: M.V. Govindan

Malappuram: CPI(M) Kerala state secretary M.V. Govindan on Wednesday said the Congress is misleading the public with claims about rehabilitation work for the landslide-affected people of Wayanad, and asserted that the facts do not match the promises being made.

Speaking to reporters in Malappuram, M.V. Govindan said former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi did not donate a penny to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) for the rehabilitation of the victims of the 2024 landslides in Mundakkai-Chooralmala areas that claimed over 200 lives. He said that except for three leaders of the Congress in Kerala, it is not known whether the other MLAs and MPs have made any contributions to the CMDRF in connection with that disaster.

M.V. Govindan also said the Congress has not made public the total amount it collected in the name of the landslide victims. He pointed out that the 3.5 acres of land currently acquired by the party would not be enough to build the 100 houses it has promised.

He recalled that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress had each promised to build 100 houses for the affected families, while the Youth Congress had pledged 30 houses, taking the total commitment to 230 homes. “Now, they have on their own reduced it to just 100,” he said.

Govindan further stated that although the Congress claims it will complete the construction quickly, it has not yet laid the foundation stone for the project. He said such statements are being made to create a false impression among the public, while the reality on the ground remains unchanged.

The CPI(M) leader reiterated that rehabilitation of the affected families must be carried out with transparency and accountability, and said the people of Wayanad deserve clarity, not confusion, in the wake of a tragedy that took hundreds of lives.