As Wayanad district in Kerala is grappling with the destruction caused by massive landslides, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, the nationalist organisation despised by left-liberals is on the ground helping the affected people. However, Congress party’s ‘JanNayak’ and former Waynad MP Rahul Gandhi and the party’s candidate from the seat Priyanka Gandhi Vadra didn’t go there due to “incessant rains and adverse weather conditions”.
In an X post published on 30th July, Rahul Gandhi said, “Priyanka and I were scheduled to visit Wayanad tomorrow to meet with families affected by the landslide and take stock of the situation. However, due to incessant rains and adverse weather conditions we have been informed by authorities that we will not be able to land. I want to assure the people of Wayanad that we will visit as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide all necessary assistance. Our thoughts are with the people of Wayanad at this difficult time.”
Similarly, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote, “My brothers and Sisters in Wayanad, Even though we cannot come to Wayanad tomorrow, our hearts are with you at this tragic hour and we are praying for all of you.
Earlier it was reported that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra will visit the landslide-affected areas in Wayanad, but later they decided not to visit. Notably, Priyanka Vadra is Congress party’s candidate for byelections from Wayanad after Rahul Gandhi chose to retain Rae Bareli after winning both seats in Lok Sabha polls.
While only the ‘thoughts’ and ‘hearts’ of Rahul and Priyanka are with the Waynad people, the RSS volunteers are doing selfless service in the landslide district. Landslides have caused widespread devastation, destroying homes and roads, uprooting trees, and causing water bodies to flood. Despite the wreckage and sorrow, the Indian Army and NDRF are conducting rescue operations. Along with the Army, RSS and Sewa Bharati volunteers are also assisting them.
These RSS and Sewa Bharati volunteers are assisting NDRF teams in locating the deceased, arranging food camps to provide food and shelter to those who have lost everything, and assisting bereaved families in identifying their loved ones Wayanad. They are also organising respectful last rituals for individuals who have died.
In addition, the RSS swayamsevaks are managing the safe transportation of injured people to hospitals, ensuring that they get timely medical care. Besides, they are also cleaning debris from blocked roads, which allows emergency vehicles to reach isolated and affected areas more swiftly. These volunteers are also providing food and essentials for the injured at hospitals.
According to an Organiser report, Sewa Bharti volunteers are operating its mobile mortuary at Ch Chitagni Churalmala to provide dignified disposal of deceased bodies. Several people from the Christian community are also using Sewa Bharti’s mobile mortuary for performing religious rites. Notably, nearly 150 people have died due to the massive landslide in Wayanad.
While RSS members are often targeted in the Left-ruled state they are always dedicated to helping the common people when faced with any man-made crisis or natural disaster. It is pertinent to mention that RSS has been helping the people regardless of their religion or caste identity while Rahul Gandhi is ensconced in Delhi peddling a caste-based divisive narrative in the Lok Sabha.
