While the rest of the country and the world was standing with Kerala in the time of crisis and donating money for the ongoing rescue and relief work in Kerala, the liquor consumption rose up in the state. According to reports which the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) has released, the residents of Kerala drank liquor and beer worth Rs 516 crore in a short 10 day period. The 10 day time period for which the figures have been released ranges from the 15th of August to August 26th (Onam). This was the time period when the rains were wreaking havoc in the state, coupled with the rising waters from the waters released from dams. The rescue and relief workers were working diligently at this time, the Indian Army and Navy were also working round the clock to save people from the looming disaster. Lakhs of people had been rendered homeless while hundreds lost their lives due to the floods.
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It was surprising to learn just a couple of days earlier that the Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor from Kerala was touring around the world when people from his constituency were battling for their lives. The left wing leaders from CPM in Kerala were caught pointing fingers at the central government for providing less funds for rescue and relief work. The central government had extended an initial relief package of Rs 100 crores followed by another package worth Rs 600 crore. A 700 crore interim relief package is no less, considering the Indian Navy and Army are already working at their full capacity. It is now making sense that the leaders of the CPM from Kerala and other states were comparing the money received as aid with the sale of alcoholic goods in that period.
It is surprising how the people of Kerala chose not to help their brethren and spent it on liquor instead while citizens from the rest of the country were pitching in with all that they could. Kerala and its people have once again managed to shock the country with their behaviour, the first incident of course was the short lived excitement which they had felt post the fake news of UAE offering Kerala foreign aid of 700 crores was circulated. The reception which this fake news had got from the CPI workers and leaders coupled was exemplary to say the least, they had exceeded themselves in showering gratitude on UAE. For a brief period of time the residents of Kerala and Communist party leaders had forgotten that the Indian security force personnel were the ones involved in relief and rescue work and not some foreign country workers. The shame they might have felt when the news of UAE aid being false came out, was nothing in comparison to what they must be feeling now. Spending in upwards of 500 crores collectively at a time when the residents of the state are fighting to survive speaks volumes about the empathy the Kerala residents have for the people of their own state.
