Hudhud is receding and has lost its intensity. Uttrandhra is slowly heaving a breath of relief as the cyclone is now over.
But hardly a day has passed since the calamity and the political leaders are busy trying to murky the waters by making untimely and irresponsible statements.
The comments made by Minister Achennanaidu during his visit to the low-lying areas of Srikakulam have shocked not just the people present but various political leaders.
Instead of focusing on the relief measures and assuring people, he stooped to the level of putting the blame on the erstwhile ruling party in united Andhra Pradesh.
He said the calamity was due to the negligent behavior of the past government and challenged them to prove otherwise.
Naturally, the grief-stricken people were speechless and are still trying to come to terms to the cheap antics of politicians who want to sensationalise even a natural calamity.
It is also surprising that being an elected people’s representative, Achennanaidu could not refrain himself from making political statements instead of talking of aid and relief measures.
In the past, Achennanaidu’s oratory skills were quite obvious during the Andhra Pradesh Assembly sessions. In fact, Chandra Babu Naidu had also congratulated him for the same. But he was not in Assembly when he made these comments. While in Assembly, his speech can be political and he can bombard any party of his choice. But now, the situation is totally different.
It is not appropriate for political leaders to make use of the sorry plight of people to gain political mileage. Isn’t it rather disgusting that a minister in state cabinet tries to use the situation for mud-slinging against rival political parties instead of consoling people who lost everything due to the cyclone?
While the ruling TDP leaders are putting up such behavior, the leaders’ behavior from neighbouring Telangana is quite surprising.
Instead of promising aid, a Telangana minister has been claiming that they sent expensive electricity equipment to Andhra during the cyclone, while the Andhra Pradesh government hasn’t reciprocated by providing electricity to Telangana. Even Tamil Nadu has declared aid to Andhra Pradesh.
Given the situation and the extent of damage, senior Telangana leaders making such comments at a time of severe crisis is both shocking and amusing.
