Cyclone Gaja has caused huge and unprecedented devastation in the Cauvery delta and neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu, and should be declared a national disaster, CPI leader D. Raja has said.
Mr. Raja, who visited affected areas in Pudukottai and Thanjavur districts on Friday and Saturday, criticised the Centre for failing to respond to the State’s demand for financial assistance of nearly ₹15,000 crore even after the visit by a Central team.
Promising to raise the issue in Parliament, he pointed out that even the removal of trees felled by the cyclone remained a challenge to farmers. “The impact of the cyclone is worse than that of the 2004 tsunami. Its impact will be felt for years to come. The Centre and the State government should extend all possible help to the people to enable them to reclaim their livelihood,” he said, addressing a press conference in Thanjavur.
Flays PM
He flayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not having inspected affected areas. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami too had not visited all of the affected areas, and the State government had been unable to exert pressure on the Centre to sanction the assistance it had sought. People were angry with the callous attitude of the Centre and the State government, he said.
When his reaction was sought to the exit poll results for the elections to the Assemblies in five States, Mr. Raja said everything would become clear on December 11, when the results were expected to be announced. However, he said the mood across the country was against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the policies of his government. The democratic and secular fabric of the country had come under threat under the BJP government, he said.
