BJP and NDA have once again proved that ‘Nation First’ is their motto; the party comes next. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been their role model and hero in this practice. Modi has been translating this theory into action since his Chief Minister days in Gujarat. For instance, in 2010, his Government sent a cheque of Rs 10 crore to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for flood relief. However, Kumar rejected it due to his party’s anti-BJP stance, Janata Dal (U). Nonetheless, when Bihar faced a similar flood calamity on September 7, 2017, Kumar accepted a Rs 5 crore cheque from the Gujarat revenue minister, despite JD(U) not being a constituent of NDA at that time.
Now, the BJP and NDA, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have once again upheld their slogan—’Nation First’. BJP and NDA-ruled States have donated a total of Rs 50 crore towards Kerala’s Wayanad flood relief activities. Here is the breakdown:
Rs 10 crore: Uttar Pradesh (BJP)
Rs 20 crore: Madhya Pradesh (BJP)
Rs 10 crore: Maharashtra (NDA)
RS 10 crore: Andhra Pradesh (NDA)
Unfortunately, the Government of Kerala, led by the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), and the mainstream media in the State have remained silent about it. They should have acknowledged this as an exemplary gesture. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav has stated that the country must stand with the disaster-stricken people who struggle to survive the calamities they face. His words reflect philanthropy and humanitarianism. His Government has also declared Rs 20 crore for Tripura, another State reeling from natural calamities.
Kerala Governor Dr Arif Mohammed Khan had sent a request to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for financial assistance regarding the Wayanad landslides. The Uttar Pradesh Government’s financial aid is a result of this request. The Governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh endorse the belief that human suffering transcends political boundaries and that everyone has a duty to assist others in times of disaster, grief, and need.
It should be remembered that both Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are ruled by BJP Governments, while Kerala is governed by a party and coalition front that opposes these Governments due to their affiliation with the BJP. In Kerala, both the ruling CPM-led LDF and the opposition Congress-led UDF tend to exaggerate even minor incidents in BJP-ruled states. Both fronts are competing fiercely in their campaigns. In this context, the humanitarian gesture of the two states is of utmost significance. The BJP and Narendra Modi envision a ‘Strong Centre and Happy States.’ It is crucial to foster healthy inter-state relations beyond the Centre-state relationship. States should cooperate for the welfare of their people rather than engage in mudslinging. This would benefit all states.
Since Narendra Modi took office in 2014, the Centre’s policy has been to extend a helping hand to all states, regardless of the ruling party’s affiliation. When the worst-ever pyrotechnics tragedy occurred at the Puttingal Devi Mandir in Paravur, Kollam district, Kerala, in April 2016, leaving 110 people dead and 400 injured, many critically, the Prime Minister visited the site the very next day. He announced Rs 2 lakh as ex-gratia for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the critically injured. At that time, the State was governed by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, leader of the Congress-led UDF.
When the entire State was hit by floods in August 2018, the Prime Minister visited the worst-hit areas and declared immediate financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to the State. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of each deceased person and Rs 50,000 for the seriously injured. This was during the regime of CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan.
When Wayanad was struck by devastating landslides, the Prime Minister visited the affected areas, including hospitals, relief camps, and damaged homes. He walked across the landslide-hit terrain in ordinary shoes and traversed a Bailey bridge constructed by military engineers just a few days after the existing bridge was washed away. The image of the Prime Minister cuddling a child in the hospital, with the child playing with his beard, went viral on social media worldwide. The Prime Minister declared that money would not be an issue for relief and rehabilitation operations, once again under Pinarayi Vijayan’s regime.
Even though this author has explained the Prime Minister’s approach towards Kerala, similar stories can be found across the entire country. No Prime Minister has so far demonstrated the same level of sympathy and empathy in such situations as our current Prime Minister does. We have never seen a Prime Minister in the country’s history respond to calamities or disasters as swiftly as he does. These recent developments indicate the emergence of a new era in the country’s political landscape.
