“Intention is to divert issue” says Minister Prahlad Joshi on opposition criticism of Anurag Thakur’s remarks

Wayanad (Kerala) [India], July 31 (ANI): Survivors of the Wayanad landslide have now been moved to various relief camps across the district. At one such relief camp set up in a school, the survivors recount the horror of the landslide. Sarojini, a resident of Chooranmala and a survivor of the Wayanad landslide, shared her terrifying experience. She was alone at home at night when the landslide struck.

“I couldn’t open the door as it was jammed. I yelled for help. After some time, people came and broke the door with an axe to rescue me,” she recounted.

Sarojini’s house was swept away in the second landslide, leaving her without a home, land, or livelihood. “I don’t know what to do,” she said.

Sarojini added that her relatives were staying in Mundakkai. Unfortunately, all of them perished; two bodies have been recovered, while 6-7 others remain

missing. The death toll in Wayanad landslides has risen to 158, says the State Revenue Department.

“I stay alone at my home, at night I felt like my bed is shaking and heard loud noises…I tried to call my neighbours but nobody picked up the phone…I called my son who stays in Coimbatore and he asked me to climb on top of the house and stay there. I couldn’t open the door as it was jammed. I yelled for help…after some time people came and broke the door with an axe and rescued me…when the second landslide came, my house also got swept away,” she said.

“My relatives stayed in Mundakkai. They all died, 2 of their bodies have been recovered, rest 6-7 are missing. Now I don’t have a home, or land and can’t go for a job either. I won’t be able to build a home. I don’t know what to do,” she added.

Doctor Hasna, who is attending to the survivors, said that many people are experiencing stress-related issues such as headaches and high blood pressure. She added that the medical team is providing medicines, but further treatment will have to wait until they recover from the shock.

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“I have come to this relief camp because in the morning many people in the camp felt unwell. Most people are having issues like headaches, and high BP, mainly because of stress. We are giving them medicines…people are in shock so for the first 3 days, we can’t do much, we will do the further treatment once they become normal,” Doctor Hasna told ANI.

Meanwhile, at a relief camp in Meppadi, essential items are being collected for the victims.

The Commandant of the Para Regimental Training Centre, Brigadier Arjun Seagan, said that 500 to 600 personnel from the NDRF, army, state police, forest officials, and volunteers have been carrying out the rescue operations on Wednesday.

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Earlier today, the Indian Army ramped up its rescue operations and successfully evacuated more than 1,000 people from affected areas to safety. The Army’s Southern Command said that up to 1,000 personnel have been rescued so far using man-made bridges and human effort.

Despite adverse climatic conditions and poor visibility, Indian Air Force Helicopters also conducted search & rescue operations in Wayanad rescuing stranded people from a narrow strip of land.

At least two massive landslides struck Kerala’s Wayanad on Tuesday morning, causing widespread destruction. The first occurred in Mundakkai, a town, and the second in Chooralmala. The massive landslides wreaked havoc in the region, damaging houses and roads, uprooting trees, and swelling water bodies, which hindered rescue operations. Relief and rescue efforts are currently underway.

The first landslide occurred at 2 am on July 30, followed by another at 4:10 am, causing immense damage to homes and livelihoods. Many areas, including Meppadi, Mundakkai and Chooralmala, have been isolated, and roads have been washed away. The Vellarmala GVH School was completely buried. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], July 31 (ANI): After BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s caste remarks on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sparked a row in parliament, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday said that Thakur did not name anyone and did not ask the caste either.

“He (Anurag Thakur) did not ask the caste. Those who don’t know caste are speaking about the Caste Census. He did not name anyone, so why are you taking it upon yourself?” Pralhad Joshi said.

Pralhad Joshi further said, ” Anurag Thakur clarified it on the floor of the House. They need an excuse. The intention is to divert the issue.”

“From Pandit Nehru to Indira Gandhi, to Rajiv Gandhi – everybody has opposed reservation for OBC, They rejected the proposal from Mandal Commission for the OBC community,” Joshi said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, ” I condemn what Congress has done, they keep talking about castes all the time…they ask the castes of media people and army personnel…Congress has hatched a conspiracy to divide the country based on castes…they keep asking about everyone’s castes, but Rahul Gandhi’s caste can’t be asked…are they above the country and Parliament?…they want to weaken democracy and the country’s economy, they want to spread anarchy and violence.”

Anurag Thakur on Tuesday entered into a heated argument with Rahul Gandhi during his speech in the Lower House of the parliament, saying that those whose caste is not known are asking for the caste census.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) talks about OBC, he talks about the census, whose caste is not known are asking for the caste census.”

He further added, “In this parliament, a former prime minister RG-1 (Rajiv Gandhi) protested against giving the reservation to OBCs”

Over Thakur’s remark, LoP Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Hamirpur MP, saying “You can insult me every day but keep in mind that the caste census will be passed here (Lok Sabha) one day. Whoever raises the issues of Adivasi, Dalit and the backwards. Is abused. I will happily accept these abuses…Anurag Thakur has abused me and insulted me. But I do not want an apology from him.”

Meanwhile, the issue has blown up into a full-scale war of words between the treasury and opposition benches. DMK MP Kanimozhi criticised the BJP leader for raising the caste of an MP in the house.

“It is unfortunate that a senior leader, who has also been a minister, thinks that caste is important to any human being, let alone the LoP. This is the example they are going to set for the youth of this country. I am worried about the future of the young people of this country. It is even more saddening that the PM has retweeted that speech and said that everyone should listen to that speech. Is this what they are trying to tell the nation that caste is important?” she said.