A controversy has erupted over the Centre denying political clearance for Kerala Health Minister Veena George to visit Kuwait, where a fire incident claimed the lives of over 23 Keralites.
While Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh left for Kuwait on Thursday morning, the day after the fire tore through a labour camp building in Kuwait killing 49 Indians, Kerala too had planned to send George to the Gulf nation. She had even arrived at Nedumbassery Airport on Thursday afternoon to fly to Kuwait but dropped her plans at the last minute after the Union government denied political clearance for her trip.
The decision has sparked a row with George commenting that the Centre’s decision "was a wrong approach."
Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan too hit out at the Centre. "It was unfortunate that Veena George was not permitted to travel to Kuwait. We intended to coordinate the efforts and make sure the people of Kerala admitted to the hospitals there were getting treatment. But the Union Government made her wait due to technical reasons," he told ANI on Friday morning.
The opposition Congress too criticised the state government for not taking timely measures. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala asked, "What is the use in sending the minister so late? What is the use of reaching the tragedy site now? This government takes even disasters lightly. We saw delays in bringing back expatriates during Covid and the opposition our expatriates raised when the Chief Minister blamed them for spreading the coronavirus during his evening press conference."
Congress leader V D Satheesh termed the Centre's move as unfortunate. "The government should have given political clearance within an hour. It was unfortunate that Veena George couldn't go to Kuwait, and the move was a wrong decision on the part of the Centre. We have a lot of limitations to get things done sitting in India. Veena George's presence in Kuwait as a representative of Kerala could have benefitted the victims's families and the injured," he added.
Meanwhile, the Kerala government has changed the timing of the inauguration ceremony of the Lok Kerala Sabha, in view of the arrival of the IAF plane carrying the mortal remains of those killed in the Kuwait fire incident.
This event, hosted by the state government, aims to bring the Malayali diaspora living around the globe under one platform. The inauguration was originally scheduled to happen at the Kerala Assembly complex at 9:30 am today, but it has been postponed to 3:00 PM. The timing was changed because ministers and officials were in Kochi to receive the mortal remains of the Kuwait victims.
However, the decision to go ahead with the meeting has irked the opposition Congress, with Ramesh Chennitahal saying the move showed "significant neglect ".
"This is an occasion where the issues of expatriates should be discussed. However, even after such a major tragedy, the government should have rescheduled the event. Their failure to do so is pure neglect towards the deceased and their families," Chennithala remarked.