Declare Kerala floods a national disaster: Congress

New Delhi, Aug 18: The Congress on Saturday demanded that the floods in Kerala be declared a national disaster, even as it accused the Narendra Modi government of discriminating between BJP and non-BJP-ruled states on the issue of offering aid.

Taking to twitter Congress President Rahul Gandhi wrote, "Dear PM, Please declare #Kerala floods a National Disaster without any delay. The lives, livelihood and future of millions of our people is at stake."

His statement comes an hour after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs 500 crore interim relief to the state following a review meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister KJ Alphons.

Meanwhile, other Congress leaders also demanded more help from the Centre and other states for the flood-hit state.

"Rahul Gandhiji and the Congress party demand that the floods in Kerala be declared a national calamity, and the Government of India should provide help to the state on a priority basis," said Randeep Surjewala, in-charge of AICC communications department.

"Rahul Gandhiji also made the plea that there should not be any politics done on the issue of flood relief. Modiji should stop discriminating in matters of flood relief between BJP and non-BJP governments... It is time Prime Minister Modi must rise above political partisan game and come forward as a nation to help people of Kerala, people of Karnataka and other states affected by the flood and declare Kerala floods a national calamity," said Surjewala.

Surjewala informed that the Congress-ruled states of Punjab and Karnataka have donated Rs 10 crore each to Kerala, while the government of Puducherry has sent Rs 1 crore.