Kerala floods: Big twist as UAE denies Rs 700 crore aid offer. Was it conjured up to play politics?

In a big twist to the controversy that has been created over India not accepting foreign disaster aid -- Rs 700 crore from the UAE over the Kerala floods, to be specific -- the UAE ambassador has now denied that any such offer had been made in the first place.

UAE'S DENIAL:

Speaking to the Indian Express, UAE ambassador Ahmed Albanna said categorically:

'UAE has not announced Rs 700 crore in aid. It is not yet final. It has not been announced'

Albanna added: 'The assessment of relief needed for the flood and aftermath is ongoing. Announcing any specific amount as financial aid, I don't think it is final, since it is still ongoing'

On Tuesday, August 21, while the flood rescue and relief operations were at their peak following PM Modi's visit to the stricken state, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had stated while addressing media that the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is home to a vast diaspora from Kerala, had offered Rs 700 crore disaster aid for the state which had suffered Rs 19,512 crore-worth of damage as a result of the floods, as per the initial estimates. Crucially, the purported Rs 700 offer had eclipsed the Rs 600 crore allocated by the central government, as a result of which it soon became a political debate.

While making the announcement regarding the Rs 700 crore aid, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan had said:

"UAE pledged Rs 700 crore as financial aid. As soon as this amount was announced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had welcomed it on Twitter. Nations have to help each other. It is normal and happens across the world. The May 2016 national disaster response policy brought by the centre says that financial assistance provided voluntarily by other nations can be accepted. But we have across media reports that there have been some problems in accepting the aid offered by UAE. In this regard, the state government will officially discuss and resolve the obstacles. The state government will wholeheartedly welcome aid from all parts of the world. We expect everybody to encourage and facilitate such aid. If the obstacles persis, we can even approach the prime minister. National disaster policy says if the national government of another country voluntarily offers assistance as goodwill gesture in solidarity with the disaster, the central government may accept the offer. This has been said. So I don't think there should be any issues. There are media reports. We will examine them."

INDIA DOESN'T ACCEPT FOREIGN DISASTER AID

Matters took another turn when it emerged that as a result of an unspoken policy enacted by the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government during the massive 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami, India had stopped accepting foreign aid for disaster relief and had backed itself respond to these domestically.

Kerala Floods 2018: Here's The Background To Why India May Not Accept The Rs 700 Crore Aid Offered By The UAE

A statement confirming this was issued, which read:

Official Spokesperson's response to queries regarding media reports on international assistance for flood relief measures for Kerala

August 22, 2018

In response to queries regarding media reports on international assistance for flood relief measures, the Official Spokesperson said:

"The Government of India deeply appreciates offers from several countries, including from foreign governments, to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts after the tragic floods in Kerala.

In line with the existing policy, the Government is committed to meeting the requirements for relief and rehabilitation through domestic efforts. 

Contributions to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund from NRIs, PIOs and international entities such as foundations would, however, be welcome."

New Delhi

CONG'S OOMMEN CHANDY WRITES TO PM MODI CONVEYING HIS 'DISAPPOINTMENT'

Pinarayi Vijayan's predecessor as Chief Minister, Congress leader Oommen Chandy, had taken the matter forward by writing a letter to the Prime Minister expressing his disappointment at the allocation made by the central government, and also the decision to deny financial assistance of Rs 700 crore from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Sayid Al Nahyan of the UAE. Chandy sought for modifications to be made to any obstacles in accepting aid from the UAE, despite them having been extant for a decade under the UPA-rule and being applied to large-scale disasters during that time, and concluded the letter by requesting the Government of India to take further steps to provide maximum possible assistance to Kerala since it has declared the floods as a 'calamity of severe nature'.

THE KERALA FLOODS AND ENSUING RESPONSE

The Kerala floods, caused due to unabating rains over the last few weeks, have led to the deaths of over 350 people and the displacement of over 3 lakh others. As per the Kerala CMO, over 80 dams in the state had to be opened, some for the first time, in order to prevent overflow. In response, while help came in from all corners, with corporates, individual states and people from across India doing their bit by providing services, relief materials and donations for Kerala, the government of India had announced a cumulative Rs 600 crore under various buckets tackling specific issues that the people of the state would face. These including rescue and relief (for which the Army, Navy, Air Force, and NDRF were deployed at a war footing), food medicines and essential supplies, insurance claims for property loss, quick rebuilding of infrastructure, provision for employment for those who have lost livelihoods, provision for housing for residents of villages who have lost kutcha housing, and others.

CONGRESS POINTS AT KERALA CM

A political controversy has now broken out following the UAE's denial:

Speaking to Republic TV, senior Congress leader and former Defence Minister AK Antony has pointed at the Kerala CM for being the origin behind news of the Rs 700 crore offer: The figure quoted by the media was issued by the Kerala Chief Minister, not quoted by the Congress. Irrespective of the figure we must accept all the aid we can because Kerala needs it. On this issue, all parties are together. As far as UPA government's move is concerned, secretaries have clarified that we said no to rescue efforts only during disasters but did accept help at a later stage. On issue of aid from all quarters, all of Kerala is together, including Union Minister KJ Alphons.

LEFT CITES 'DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS', DEFENDS ITSELF, ACCUSES:

Speaking to Republic TV, top CPM sources said that the Kerala government had been communicated about the offer through diplomatic channels. They questioned, 'if there was no help why would the UAE Prince tweet about help to Kerala?' They added, 'There is a possibility that the government may have contacted UAE on this matter', adding, 'we have accepted aid in the past and shouldn't shy away from doing that irrespective of the amount that has been offered.'

Update at Noon on Friday: CENTRAL GOVERNMENT DENIES RECEIVING Rs 700 CRORE AID OFFER

Top government sources have told Republic TV: 'We have not been communicated any specific amount of assistance from UAE. We don’t know where this talk of sum of Rs 700 crore has come from. There was an offer for help made generously by the Crown Prince of UAE and Prime Minister has thanked him for it. Our official stand on foreign aid has already been put out. India is capable to handle the situation domestically.'

FORMER KERALA CM AND CONGRESS LEADER OOMMEN CHANDY PASSES THE BUCK ON PINARAYI VIJAYAN

Former Kerala Chief Minister and Congress leader Oommen Chandy has defended his party, claiming the present Kerala government had misled them. He said, "We only went by what the Kerala Chief Minister told the media. The figures were completely based on media reports and Kerala Govt claim. I wrote to PM as we got an indication from Kerala Govt that accepting the Rs 700 cr aid would be delayed by centre.