People return to their homes as water recedes in Kerala. (PTI file photo)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The controversy over UAE’s Rs 700-crore offer for flood relief sparked a protest on Thursday with netizens launching a hashtag campaign on Twitter, #LetKeralaLive. Former diplomats and political leaders, too, have come out against the Centre’s decision that India won’t take aid from foreign governments to rebuild Kerala .

“True that as a country we can give rather than take assistance, but 80% of Indians in the Gulf are Malayalis. Offer of flood relief assistance from that region must be treated with sensitivity. Saying no is simple, but for Kerala-in-crisis, it’s not so simple,’’ former foreign secretary Nirupama Rao tweeted.

Jogging his memory, Shivshankar Menon, former national security adviser, said: “The 2004 decision was to not accept foreign participation in relief but accept it for long-term rehabilitation, case-by-case.” The decision, he tweeted, was that India needed no rescue teams or hand-holding, but the country was open to help for rebuilding houses, bridges, roads, etc.

Criticising the Centre’s stand, CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said New Delhi should have reviewed the norms if it prevented accepting funds from foreign governments.

“If the Centre is not ready to review, then the Centre will have to provide the equivalent amount promised by the foreign countries,” he said.

Balakrishnan said the Centre’s decision against relief fund for Kerala could not be justified since India has been accepting foreign aid for several of its initiatives.

CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran also flayed the decision and demanded a review.

BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai refuted Balakrishnan. “Though the Union government has extended all help to rebuild the state, the state government is trying to flare up anti-Centre sentiments,” he said.

Former KPCC president V M Sudheeran said the loss suffered would be larger than the initially estimated Rs 20,000 crore. “The state needs help from all to rebuild. The Centre’s rules should not become a hindrance in accepting help,” he said.

