Thiruvananthapuram: Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has strongly criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling his recent claims in Kochi about the Centre's generous assistance to Kerala during natural disasters a “complete falsehood”.

In a scathing Facebook post, Brittas accused Shah of misrepresenting routine fiscal allocations, claiming that the funds provided to Kerala were not benevolent contributions, but constitutionally mandated disbursements determined by the Finance Commission, taking into account the state’s tax contributions.

“Amit Shah twisted the truth, presenting what was Kerala’s rightful due as a magnanimous act of the Centre. This is nothing short of a calculated distortion,” Brittas wrote.

He went on to highlight the Union Government’s refusal to comply with repeated Kerala High Court directives urging the waiver of loans for Wayanad’s disaster-hit residents. “Those who cannot even honour a humanitarian directive of the judiciary are now trying to parade themselves as saviours,” he added.

Brittas also questioned the Centre’s double standards, pointing out that while it has shown reluctance to waive the loans of disaster-affected ordinary citizens, it has written off massive sums for its favoured businessmen. “If the public were to hear the actual figures of loans written off for their cronies, it would be enough to cause collective shock,” he remarked.

Citing an official response received in Parliament, Brittas revealed that during the Wayanad disaster and other calamities, the Indian Air Force's rescue operations — widely lauded by the public and media — were not free humanitarian missions, as portrayed. Instead, the entire cost was billed to the state of Kerala.

“The Centre called it a humanitarian relief mission — a term that misled many, including us. But in reality, not a single paisa was waived. The entire expense was dumped on the state,” he wrote.

According to Brittas, Kerala has been charged ₹132.61 crore by the Union Government for helicopter operations carried out during the disasters. He warned that if such charges were not paid, the corresponding amount would be deducted from Kerala’s rightful share in the disaster relief fund.

Sharing the official question-and-answer document from the Rajya Sabha, Brittas concluded by stating, “Amit Shah will return again, with even bigger lies. We must be prepared.”

The sharp remarks come amid a broader debate over federal financial fairness and disaster response obligations in India, especially in opposition-led states like Kerala.