Wayanad (Kerala), April 7 Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, accusing them of having no plan for the safety of Indians working in West Asia or for their return, amidst the conflict.
Priyanka, the Wayanad MP, also accused the PM of "attacking minorities" through the amendments sought to be made in the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and claimed that it would force many charities and Christian organisations to shut down.
She claimed that instead of supporting the people during this time, the Left government in Kerala was busy making deals with the BJP to save its "corrupt" leadership from any "consequences" for their alleged irregularities.
The Congress leader further alleged that the PM was bowing down before the US and Israel "to save himself" and that neither the Centre, nor the Left government in Kerala has any plans to provide safety, security or a route back home to the lakhs of people from the state who are stuck in the Gulf region in the midst of the conflict.
"We have a coward leading us in the Centre and a coward leading us in the state," she alleged.
She made the allegations during the public meetings in Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady Assembly segments in her Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, as part of the UDF campaign ahead of the April 9 polls.
Priyanka also spoke about the plight of the tribal communities in the hill district and how alcoholism and malnutrition were rising among them due to a lack of jobs, children dropping out of school because of unequal educational opportunities and lack of access to healthcare that has left them "riddled with diseases" like anaemia.
She alleged that neither the Centre nor the state was doing much for them, causing the language and culture of the tribal communities, "whose beautiful traditions are the foundation of humankind," to slowly die out.
The Congress leader further alleged that 10 years of LDF rule have only increased the problems of the people of the state and contended that the people want politics of development and not of corruption or communalism.
Earlier in the day, at Kalpetta, she claimed that the party's housing project for victims of the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides was delayed due to a lack of clearances from the ruling Left government in Kerala.
Over 200 people had died in the disaster, and hundreds had lost homes and means of livelihood.
Priyanka claimed that clearances for the Congress project were given only after the LDF township was inaugurated.
"I am sure my colleagues in the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) faced the same problems," she contended.
Her remarks come amidst allegations of irregularities against Congress regarding the collection and utilisation of funds for the Wayanad housing project, putting the party on the back foot.
Priyanka also questioned why there were no cases against Vijayan, despite facing several corruption accusations, when those opposing Modi and the BJP are facing probes by central agencies.
"So, it is clear that they have a secret deal and they are working together for their own political benefit," she alleged.
She further alleged that during the last 10 years of LDF rule in Kerala, there has been widespread corruption, an increase in unemployment, the state has been put under an immense financial debt, and taxes have gone up, making life difficult for the people.
Referring to the increasing man-animal conflict in the hill regions, Priyanka said that political will and working together are required for finding a solution to this problem, but the LDF was not up for the task.
She urged voters to cast their ballot in favour of the UDF in the April 9 polls as "the LDF works for the corporates and not the common people". The 140-seat Kerala Assembly goes to the polls on April 9.