To help Kerala in its worst crisis in a century, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party ministers have decided to donate their one-month salaries for the relief fund.
On Saturday, Congress demanded that the Centre should declare the floods in Kerala as a “national calamity”.
In the meeting chaired by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, and attended by Congress general secretaries, party in-charges of states, legislative party leaders and state unit chiefs, it was decided that all the elected representatives, be it MPs, MLAs or MLCs will donate their one month salary for the relief efforts in Kerala, reported The News Minute.
Gandhi had earlier in a tweet asked the Prime Minister to declare the situation as a “national disaster”. He tweeted, “Dear PM, Please declare #Kerala floods a National Disaster without any delay. The lives, livelihood and future of millions of our people is at stake.”
Congress national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala addressed the media after the meeting and asked Modi led BJP government to come forward and help the flood-hit Kerala where over 180 people have died and property worth over Rs 3,000 crore has been pulverised in the floods, reported The News Minute.
“It was decided that all Congress MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Congress MLAs across India and party MLCs will donate one month’s salary, which will be sent through the AICC for relief measures in Kerala,” added Sujrewala.
He said that Punjab Congress government and JD(S)- Congress coalition government in Karnataka have each donated 10 crore for the relief operations. Puducherry government has contributed 1 crore for the relief fund.
Sujrewala declared that apart from Puducherry, special relief committees will be formed in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu by the Congress workers and whatever relief material will be collected will be sent to Kerala.
He reiterated Gandhi’s request and said, “Modiji should stop discriminating in matters of flood relief. The Prime Minister must rise above party-politics and come forward to help Kerala, Karnataka and other flood-affected states. The Prime Minister should declare Kerala floods as a national calamity.”
Similarly, AAM chief Arvind Kejriwal announced that all AAP MPs, MLA’s and ministers will donate their one month salary to Kerala, reported DNA.
A DNA report said, on Friday, Kejriwal had declared that the Delhi government will contribute Rs 10 crore for the relief operations and appealed to the Delhi citizens to make contributions to help the people of Kerala.