VD Satheesan defends helicopter trip; calls meal controversy 'disrespectful'

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Monday responded to the controversies surrounding his helicopter journey and the criticism over having a meal while the state grappled with widespread flood devastation.

Describing the campaign against him as "heinous" and "disrespectful", the Chief Minister said the propaganda portraying him negatively for eating during the crisis was unfair. He said he had been in constant touch with the Revenue Minister, Chief Secretary and District Collectors from 5 am onwards to assess the situation. He added that all ministers and MLAs were present in the affected areas and that he had his meal only at 3 pm.

In a sarcastic remark, Satheesan said he was unaware that the then Chief Minister had observed a fast during the 2018 floods. "I have only now realised that a Chief Minister is apparently not supposed to eat," he said at a press conference.

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He said updates from the Chief Minister's Office were being issued every three hours and that the Revenue Minister had already conducted two media briefings. However, he questioned why sections of the media had chosen to focus solely on his meal while ignoring the government's relief efforts.

Satheesan said he had previously overseen relief operations in which nearly 75,000 people were accommodated in relief camps, and recalled arranging essential supplies even by borrowing from local markets when necessary. He said the government had never sought publicity for such efforts and urged the people of Kerala to judge the situation fairly. He also criticised former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging that he had used press conferences during disasters to make political accusations.

The Chief Minister also condemned attempts to politicise the situation in relief camps. Referring to a complaint raised by a woman at a relief camp in Aranmula regarding inadequate facilities, he alleged that she had spoken to the media at the insistence of a local political party Area Secretary. He claimed that the woman later clarified the facts herself. Satheesan maintained that there were currently no major issues in any relief camp and urged people not to spread panic or create unnecessary controversy while the state was facing a major disaster.

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Addressing the helicopter controversy, Satheesan said the journey was undertaken solely to meet an investment delegation that had arrived in Kochi. According to him, the delegation had already met the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and was scheduled to return to Delhi on Sunday. He said missing the meeting could have harmed Kerala's investment prospects at a time when neighbouring states were actively competing for investments.

He said he had initially planned to travel by Vande Bharat Express but opted for the helicopter due to time constraints.

The Chief Minister also asserted that the helicopter trip did not impose any additional financial burden on the government. He explained that the state pays a monthly lease of ₹80 lakh for the helicopter, which includes 25 hours of flying time. Whether or not those flying hours are utilised, the government is required to pay the full amount, he said. He added that the helicopter had been used only sparingly by the Chief Minister and ministers during the present government's tenure, leaving no question of financial loss.

He also asked critics to examine the helicopter usage during the tenure of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Satheesan alleged that Vijayan had used helicopters to attend party conferences and claimed that the expenses were met from the disaster relief fund. He maintained that he had never used official resources for party programmes, but only for activities that benefited the state.

Satheesan declined to disclose the identity of the investment group he met in Kochi. "Why should I tell you?" he asked, accusing sections of the media of attempting to derail the proposed investment project by dragging the investors' names into controversy. He said the details would be made public once the project reached its final stage, adding that he would not allow investors to be unnecessarily drawn into political debates.