Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan. (File photo)

NEW DELHI: The row over UAE's reported "offer" of Rs 700 crore for Kerala flood relief took a new turn on Friday with Ahmed Al Banna, the Emirates' ambassador here, saying that the Gulf nation has not officially announced any financial aid, setting off a fresh round of political point-scoring.

BJP immediately claimed that UAE's financial assistance was concocted and was a "Communist-Islamist" plot to defame India while CPM said it was "unusual" for the government to issue a statement turning down an offer if none had been made.

Al Banna said UAE has only set up an emergency committee to ask people to contribute 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," said a senior official in the embassy. He said UAE may come out with a plan in the next few days to extend assistance to flood victims.

The controversy saw CPM, which leads the Kerala government, accuse the Modi government of denying possible assistance to the state on the basis of an existing policy dating to UPA tenure not to accept direct financial assistance from foreign 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 said: "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 prime minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Rashid al Makhtoom's three tweets on August 18 do not mention any amount. "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 by 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 thank you tweet a few hours later.

The $100-million (Rs 700-crore) figure, it now appears, came from a report in a Gulf newspaper. That saw Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on August 21 saying that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, had informed Modi about the contribution. He said this was conveyed by M A Yusuf Ali, a businessman. He later said UAE cannot be considered as any other nation given the presence of Indian diaspora.

On August 22, the MEA clarified that the Modi government would not accept financial assistance from foreign governments in keeping with the existing policy. Tourism minister K J Alphons, who hails from Kerala, said he had asked his "seniors" to make an exception for the state even as he said he would go by the existing policy.

The CPM attacked the Centre for showing insensitivity and blocking the financial aid. "It undermines the federal framework of the Constitution, and the arbitrary and short-sighted announcement has, in fact, embarrassed a friendly government," said Karat. Kerala BJP, meanwhile, asked the CM to reveal how he came to know of the figure of Rs 700 crore.

On August 22, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi also 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 said contributions to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and the chief minister's relief fund from non-resident Indians, persons of Indian origin and international entities such as foundations would be allowed, but no aid would be taken from foreign 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," said the MEA.

Karat questioned MEA's citing a policy framed by 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."



In Video: UAE denies announcement of Rs 700 cr as financial aid for flood-hit Kerala