Opposition slams Kerala govt over mishandling returnees

The opposition leaders have come down heavily on the Kerala government for lack of proper arrangements for the arrival of stranded Keralites from neighbouring states. Around 200,000 people have registered to return, yet hundreds are stuck at check-post for want of proper passes.

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leaders slammed the Kerala government, here on Saturday, over poor arrangements for arrival of Keralites stranded in neighbouring states, like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

According to the state-owned Norka-Roots web portal, around 200,000 people have registered to return and the majority is from neighbouring states and Maharashtra.

The Kerala government has set up six entry points for Keralites, stranded in these states due to the lockdown.

During the day, Congress Lok Sabha member V.K. Sreekandan rushed to Walayar on the border of Coimbatore on hearing that hundreds were stuck at the check-post for want of proper passes, and provided them food.

"It's unfortunate. The Kerala government is taking so much pain to take care of migrant labourers, but is not showing the same enthusiasm to receive own people, waiting to enter their home state," said Sreekandan.

In Thrissur, three Congress lawmakers - T.N. Prathapan, Remya Haridas (both MPs) and Anil Akkara (MLA) -- staged a sit-in at the district headquarters. "People from Thrissur are stuck at various check-posts. It's total chaos in allocation of passes. This has to end as the people are suffering," said Haridas.

Prathapan said it could have easily been managed online. "It's surprising when Minister for Local Self-Government A.C. Moideen intervenes, passes get issued. It's unfortunate. There seems to be a political play," said Akkara.

A Kerala resident, waiting on the border near Mangaluru in Karnataka, said five of them had applied for passes together, but only one got the permission.

At the Walayar border check-post, many waiting to enter are yet to get passes.

"In Tamil Nadu, we got the pass quickly. Now we are waiting to enter our home state. We applied for passes on May 6, but are yet to get it," said another.

A woman stranded in Erode, Tamil Nadu, told a television news channel she was waiting for an entry pass from Kerala and had run out of money. "We came to attend a marriage and the lockdown was announced. We are staying in one room. It's tough for our relatives with whom we are staying," she said.

State Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekheran, however, said they were doing their best and all the district authorities had been asked to step up operations.

IANS