Kochi, March 29 In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at an NDA rally alleging that the UDF and LDF have "plundered" Kerala, senior Congress leader Pawan Khera said on Sunday that the Prime Minister had been "absent" when the state needed him the most.
Addressing a press conference here, Khera said that Kerala required the Prime Minister's attention during the 2018 floods and the 2024 Wayanad landslide, but did not receive adequate support.
"In 2018, the state needed ₹35,000 crore. How much did the Prime Minister give? ₹600 crore. When the recent landslides happened, the requirement was ₹2,219 crore. How much did he give? ₹250 crore," he said.
"When Kerala needs the Prime Minister's attention, he is missing. When there is a crisis in Kerala, the Prime Minister vanishes," he alleged.
Khera also criticized the Centre over its portrayal of the state, saying that the Prime Minister only sees Kerala through "films designed to defame" it.
He said that many people from Kerala were stranded in West Asia, but the Prime Minister did not use the political goodwill that India has always had there to rescue them, bring them back to India, and ensure their safety.
He was responding to the Prime Minister's remark that his government is working to ensure that the war in West Asia has minimal impact on India, while accusing the Congress of making "dangerous" remarks that could risk Indian lives for political gain.
He further alleged that the BJP and the CPI(M) were working in tandem.
"I don't know who is Team A or Team B, but they are twins. People will reject both," he said.
Responding to Modi's claim that the NDA is the "A team" in Kerala, Khera said "A" stands for "absent".
"BJP is absent before elections and will be absent after elections. It comes only during elections. Tell the Prime Minister that he is 'A', and 'A' stands for absent. Kerala will not allow them," he said.
On Modi referring to allegations against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, Khera said the Congress had acted promptly.
"The MLA was suspended the moment the matter came to our notice," he said.
Khera said Modi had forgotten that he campaigned for Prajwal Revanna during the Lok Sabha elections.
"As far as the Congress is concerned, we stand for the highest moral values. We took immediate action," he said.
He alleged that BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar was facing serious charges.
"Not disclosing property in an election affidavit is a serious offence. Even then, no action is taken," he alleged.
On Congress and CPI(M) relations, Khera said that while there are occasions at the national level to come together against a "larger adversary", the two parties have traditionally been rivals in Kerala.