Latin Catholic Church, CPI(M) flay UDF government’s ‘half-hearted’ marine rescue response in Kerala
The Latin Catholic Church and the CPI(M) have criticized the Kerala government's handling of marine rescue operations during recent heavy rains. Critics argue that the government failed to provide adequate warnings and disaster oversight, leading to preventable loss of life.
Why it matters
Illustrates the intersection of religious influence, political opposition, and disaster management in regional Indian politics.
The Latin Catholic Church and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday (August 7, 2026), separately, sought to put the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government on the dock over its alleged failure to rescue fishers who went missing at sea during the current spell of heavy rain that wreaked havoc across Kerala, including its 640-km coastline.
The Vicar General of the Thiruvananthapuram Latin Catholic Archdiocese, Fr. Eugine H. Pereira, told reporters that he had met Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor in person ahead of the rough season and raised a charter of demands for fishers’ welfare, including the establishment of an effective marine search-and-rescue system, and compensation and government jobs for the families of fishers lost to the sea, to no avail.
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