Thiruvananthapuram

On Monday, K Surendran, Chief of the Kerala BJP, accused the state government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of inflating relief expenditures related to the Wayanad landslides. Surendran claimed that the state’s disaster management authority had presented exaggerated figures to the Kerala High Court, suggesting corruption and misuse of funds.

In a post on X, Surendran criticized the government for allegedly exploiting the tragedy for personal gain. He said, The inflated relief spending reported to the High Court reeks of corruption. The Vijayan government has turned this disaster into a scheme for financial gain, while the people of Kerala offered selfless aid to the victims.

Surendran also demanded Vijayan’s resignation, asserting, If Pinarayi Vijayan had any integrity, he would step down immediately. This government has shown unprecedented heartlessness. He previously criticized Vijayan for ignoring central government warnings about the severe weather that led to the disaster, claiming it was a preventable tragedy.

A recent study by World Weather Attribution found that the torrential rains contributing to the Wayanad landslides were about 10 percent heavier due to human-induced climate change.