Pinarayi Vijayan visits homes of missing fisherman John and Rajesh; criticises government over disaster response

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan visited the home of John, a native of Vizhinjam who went missing at sea after his boat capsized while fishing. He met and spoke to John's children, Jiji and Jinil, and heard their concerns. He assured them that the issues raised by the family would be brought to the attention of the Chief Minister.

Pinarayi Vijayan also visited the home of Rajesh, a native of Kalliyoor in Thiruvananthapuram, who died during rescue operations in Cherupuzha in Kannur. Vijayan said the government should provide a job to Rajesh's wife and intervene to clear the family's debts.

"Rajesh's family should not be left destitute. He had to incur some debts as part of his public activities. The government should provide assistance to repay them. The government should take an urgent decision on providing a job to Rajesh's wife. The government should ensure support for the continued education of the two children. Whatever is done, it will not be too much in Rajesh's case," the Opposition Leader said.

Pinarayi also criticised the state government over the BJP state president's claim that he had intervened to secure central assistance for Kerala during the disaster. He said it was strange that a state minister had sought the help of a party leader to secure the central assistance that Kerala was entitled to receive.

"Why should a minister from Kerala appeal to the leader of a political party? When a minister makes such an appeal, he would not do so without the Chief Minister's direction, would he? I do not understand why such a position was taken. The biggest lapse was that the necessary steps were not taken in time. There was no intervention as part of that. There was no situation where it was viewed seriously," Pinarayi Vijayan added.