Cong flays Kerala CM over Covid-19 crisis

Thiruvananthapuram, May 19 (IANS) Slamming arrogance of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for not taking the opposition into confidence on the Covid-19 crisis, the Congress, here on Tuesday, demanded an urgent all-party meeting to discuss the issues facing the state.

Addressing the media, leader of opposition in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala gave a 10-point recommendation to the Vijayan government.

“There are 87 lakh families in Kerala. Of this, 60 per cent are finding it tough to tide ove the crisis. They are in urgent need of Rs 5,000 direct benefit transfer,” he said and added, only thing they had received was announcements.

The Congress leader termed the Rs 20,000 crore package announced by Vijayan as a bluff.

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said it was unfortunate that Vijayan was seeing everything from a political angle.

“The basic Covid-19 protocols are being violated by the Ministers. But five Congress lawmakers were put into isolation. The state and the central governments have failed in getting back the Kerala diaspora, stranded in the country and aboard. It’s been two months now and only a handful have returned,” Chandy said.

“We want the state and the centre to work together to get them back soon,” he said.

On examinations in the staate, state Congress chief Mullapally Ramachandran said the Vijayan government’s plan to hold them from next week was dangerous. It would put health of 1.3 million students and the invigilators in jeopardy, he added.

–IANS

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