Tharoor Backs Priyanka Gandhi in Call for Fair Landslide Relief

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor endorses Priyanka Gandhi's plea to convert funds for Kerala landslide victims from loans to grants and extend spending deadlines. Gandhi highlights inadequacies in the package, urging sensitivity towards affected communities. The move follows concerns over the fairness and sufficiency of central relief efforts.

In a significant political development, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has openly supported fellow party leader Priyanka Gandhi's appeal for a more equitable approach to disaster relief funding in Kerala. Taking to the social media platform X, Tharoor voiced strong backing for Gandhi's push to transform government-provided financial aid from a loan into a grant to assist victims of the devastating Wayanad landslide.

The Kerala tragedy, which struck Chooralmala and Mundakkai on July 30, 2024, prompted Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi to write an urgent letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Citing the urgent need for unconditional financial support, Gandhi described the initial relief allocation as 'inadequate' and expressed dissatisfaction with the terms imposed by the central government.

The central government announced a relief package worth Rs 529.50 crore, but it has been criticized for being disbursed as a loan with a restrictive spending deadline of March 31, 2025. Gandhi and Tharoor argue that these conditions overlook the sensitive plight of the affected communities, who are still struggling to recover half a year after the disaster.