NEW DELHI: The row over UAE's reported "offer" of Rs 700 crore for Kerala flood reduction took a brand new turn on Friday with Ahmed Al Banna, the Emirates' ambassador here, announcing that the Gulf nation has now not officially introduced any monetary help, setting off a fresh spherical of political point-scoring.
BJP instantly claimed that UAE's monetary help was concocted and was a "Communist-Islamist" plot to defame India while CPM mentioned it was "unusual" for the government to factor a remark turning down an offer if none had been made.
Al Banna mentioned UAE has most effective arrange an emergency committee to invite people to give a contribution to Kerala generously during the Eid season. "UAE has not officially announced any financial aid for Kerala flood relief. We have not conveyed anything to India on any assistance," mentioned a senior reliable in the embassy. He mentioned UAE might come out with a plan in the following few days to extend help to flood sufferers.
The controversy saw CPM, which leads the Kerala govt, accuse the Modi govt of denying conceivable help to the state on the basis of an present coverage relationship to UPA tenure not to settle for direct monetary the aid of international governments.
BJP IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya tweeted, "It is disconcerting to note that a section aligned to the Communist-Islamist nexus in Kerala celebrates a non-existent offer from a foreign country while runs down Indian state and organisations such as Seva Bharati simply because it doesn't suit their ideological narrative."
CPM politburo member Brinda Karat mentioned: "Modi himself acknowledged and thanked UAE for the offer of help to Kerala through a tweet on August 18. No consultation with the Kerala government followed on the matter and the MEA, unilaterally, issued a statement turning down the offer of assistance."
UAE high minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Rashid al Makhtoom's three tweets on August 18 don't point out any quantity. "The state of Kerala in India is currently witnessing huge floods, the most devastating in a century. Hundreds have been killed, hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Ahead of Eid-al-Adha, do not forget to extend a helping hand to our brothers in India."
This was followed through another: "UAE and the Indian community will unite to offer relief to those affected. We have formed a committee to start immediately. We urge everyone to contribute generously towards this initiative… The people of Kerala have always been and are still part of our success story in the UAE." Modi responded with a thanks tweet a few hours later.
The $100-million (Rs 700-crore) determine, it now seems, got here from a record in a Gulf newspaper. That saw Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on August 21 announcing that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, had knowledgeable Modi in regards to the contribution. He mentioned this was conveyed through M A Yusuf Ali, a businessman. He later mentioned UAE can't be thought to be as any other nation given the presence of Indian diaspora.
On August 22, the MEA clarified that the Modi govt would now not settle for monetary the aid of international governments in line with the present coverage. Tourism minister Ok J Alphons, who hails from Kerala, mentioned he had asked his "seniors" to make an exception for the state at the same time as he mentioned he would go through the present coverage.
The CPM attacked the Centre for appearing insensitivity and blocking the monetary help. "It undermines the federal framework of the Constitution, and the arbitrary and short-sighted announcement has, in fact, embarrassed a friendly government," mentioned Karat. Kerala BJP, in the meantime, asked the CM to show how he got here to grasp of the determine of Rs 700 crore.
On August 22, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi additionally tweeted: "I spoke to the Indian Prime Minister about the devastation caused by the floods in Kerala. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims. We stand with the Indian people. Our relief and charitable institutions are helping with relief efforts."
The MEA had mentioned contributions to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and the manager minister's reduction fund from non-resident Indians, individuals of Indian foundation and world entities equivalent to foundations can be allowed, however no help can be taken from international governments.
"The government of India deeply appreciates offers from several countries, including from foreign governments, to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts. In line with the existing policy, the government is committed to meeting the requirements through domestic efforts," mentioned the MEA.
Karat wondered MEA's mentioning a coverage framed through UPA. Relevant to the present situation is the National Disaster Management Plan which says "as a matter of policy, the government of India does not issue any appeal for foreign assistance in the wake of a disaster. However, if the national government of another country voluntarily offers assistance as a goodwill gesture in solidarity with the disaster victims, the central government may accept the offer... In consultation with the concerned state government, MHA will assess the requirements that the foreign teams can provide."
BJP instantly claimed that UAE's monetary help was concocted and was a "Communist-Islamist" plot to defame India while CPM mentioned it was "unusual" for the government to factor a remark turning down an offer if none had been made.
Al Banna mentioned UAE has most effective arrange an emergency committee to invite people to give a contribution to Kerala generously during the Eid season. "UAE has not officially announced any financial aid for Kerala flood relief. We have not conveyed anything to India on any assistance," mentioned a senior reliable in the embassy. He mentioned UAE might come out with a plan in the following few days to extend help to flood sufferers.
The controversy saw CPM, which leads the Kerala govt, accuse the Modi govt of denying conceivable help to the state on the basis of an present coverage relationship to UPA tenure not to settle for direct monetary the aid of international governments.
BJP IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya tweeted, "It is disconcerting to note that a section aligned to the Communist-Islamist nexus in Kerala celebrates a non-existent offer from a foreign country while runs down Indian state and organisations such as Seva Bharati simply because it doesn't suit their ideological narrative."
CPM politburo member Brinda Karat mentioned: "Modi himself acknowledged and thanked UAE for the offer of help to Kerala through a tweet on August 18. No consultation with the Kerala government followed on the matter and the MEA, unilaterally, issued a statement turning down the offer of assistance."
UAE high minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Rashid al Makhtoom's three tweets on August 18 don't point out any quantity. "The state of Kerala in India is currently witnessing huge floods, the most devastating in a century. Hundreds have been killed, hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Ahead of Eid-al-Adha, do not forget to extend a helping hand to our brothers in India."
This was followed through another: "UAE and the Indian community will unite to offer relief to those affected. We have formed a committee to start immediately. We urge everyone to contribute generously towards this initiative… The people of Kerala have always been and are still part of our success story in the UAE." Modi responded with a thanks tweet a few hours later.
The $100-million (Rs 700-crore) determine, it now seems, got here from a record in a Gulf newspaper. That saw Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on August 21 announcing that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, had knowledgeable Modi in regards to the contribution. He mentioned this was conveyed through M A Yusuf Ali, a businessman. He later mentioned UAE can't be thought to be as any other nation given the presence of Indian diaspora.
On August 22, the MEA clarified that the Modi govt would now not settle for monetary the aid of international governments in line with the present coverage. Tourism minister Ok J Alphons, who hails from Kerala, mentioned he had asked his "seniors" to make an exception for the state at the same time as he mentioned he would go through the present coverage.
The CPM attacked the Centre for appearing insensitivity and blocking the monetary help. "It undermines the federal framework of the Constitution, and the arbitrary and short-sighted announcement has, in fact, embarrassed a friendly government," mentioned Karat. Kerala BJP, in the meantime, asked the CM to show how he got here to grasp of the determine of Rs 700 crore.
On August 22, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi additionally tweeted: "I spoke to the Indian Prime Minister about the devastation caused by the floods in Kerala. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims. We stand with the Indian people. Our relief and charitable institutions are helping with relief efforts."
The MEA had mentioned contributions to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and the manager minister's reduction fund from non-resident Indians, individuals of Indian foundation and world entities equivalent to foundations can be allowed, however no help can be taken from international governments.
"The government of India deeply appreciates offers from several countries, including from foreign governments, to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts. In line with the existing policy, the government is committed to meeting the requirements through domestic efforts," mentioned the MEA.
Karat wondered MEA's mentioning a coverage framed through UPA. Relevant to the present situation is the National Disaster Management Plan which says "as a matter of policy, the government of India does not issue any appeal for foreign assistance in the wake of a disaster. However, if the national government of another country voluntarily offers assistance as a goodwill gesture in solidarity with the disaster victims, the central government may accept the offer... In consultation with the concerned state government, MHA will assess the requirements that the foreign teams can provide."
UAE says no Kerala aid offer yet, triggers fresh round of political sniping
![UAE says no Kerala aid offer yet, triggers fresh round of political sniping]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
August 25, 2018
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