Karnataka landslide: Unfortunate that ministers were late in reaching Shiroor, says K Muraleedharan

Kozhikode: Prominent Congress leader K Muraleedharan expressed disappointment over the delayed arrival of Kerala ministers to Shiroor in Karnataka, where efforts are ongoing to locate Arjun, the Kozhikode native missing due to landslide.

"If the ministers from Kerala had reached on the day Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reached, people would have been relieved. Even local MLA AK Saseendran has just left. It is unfortunate that the ministers left late. Even though it is not his own constituency, the Manjeshwar MLA is still there. The State government alone cannot be blamed for the delay in the search. Don't see this as a dispute between States', he said.

Muraleedharan also highlighted issues with the National Highway's construction, saying that incidents like Arjun's shouldn't be seen as isolated occurrences. He also condemned cyber attacks during such crises, demanding strict punishment for perpetrators.

Regarding the disputes within Congress, Muraleedharan emphasised the need for unity, urging action against those undermining party cohesion. He also addressed his new responsibility in Palakkad for the upcoming local body elections, stressing the importance of party matters.

In criticism of the union budget, Muraleedharan accused the BJP of neglecting Kerala, claiming promises like AIIMS in Kinalur remain unfulfilled despite available land.