NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday led a protest at Parliament’s Makar Dwar alongside opposition MPs from Kerala, demanding financial aid for the landslide-affected people of Wayanad.
The opposition MPs carried banners that read, “Justice for Wayanad, Provide relief package for Wayanad” and “Wayanad ko nyay do, bedbav na karein,” while raising slogans such as “stop discrimination against Kerala.”
Speaking to the reporters, Priyanka Gandhi said, “We are very disturbed by the fact that the government is refusing to give the special relief package to Wayanad. We have requested the PM, everyone, to declare that this is a calamity of severe nature and give a special package.”
She continued that similar large-scale destruction has occurred in Himachal Pradesh, “where Congress is in power. They have been demanding for the longest time that the Centre helps and gives assistance that is required to victims. The whole government has seen devastation, pain and suffering.”
“Yet, just because of politics, in both cases the central government is refusing to do what is due to the victims. They are citizens of India. There should be no discrimination during natural disasters,” the MP from Wayanad added.
Kerala experienced its deadliest landslide on July 30, claiming over 300 lives and causing widespread destruction to homes and infrastructure. The disaster severely impacted the residents of Mundakkai and Chooralmala areas.
Taking to X, the Kerala Congress party had posted a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi cruising down the Ganga while inspecting Maha Kumbh preparations in Prayagraj. The party captioned the post, “Father of democracy caught on camera skipping Parliament session and roaming around.”
Earlier on Friday, the Congress MP made her debut speech in Lok Sabha, taking center stage during the Constitution debate. She led the Congress charge against PM Modi and accused the NDA government of making every effort to dismiss the Constitution in the last 10 years.
The Congress leader raised the issue of recent violence in Sambhal and Manipur, Lok Sabha results and the Constitution to corner the BJP government. She said, “Today people are intimidated from speaking the truth. Be it a journalist or an opposition leader or a university professor everyone’s mouth is shut. Opposition leaders are investigated by ED, CBI, IT and are sent to jail by making false allegation.”
“This government has spared no one. Their media machine spreads lies and makes accusations,” she added.
