New Delhi: In protest against the Centre's demand for the reimbursement of funds used for airlifting survivors during the Mundakkai–Chooralmala landslide, MPs from Kerala staged a demonstration outside Parliament on Saturday. UDF and LDF MPs from Kerala raised the slogan, "Kerala is a part of India." Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi also joined the protest, chanting the slogan in Malayalam. 

"The Prime Minister met the victims. We hoped that, at the very least, out of humanity and compassion, they would provide what is owed to the victims of Wayanad. We are still hopeful that the government will show some sense. This matter transcends politics," Priyanka said.

She stated that requesting money for rescue operations was wrong and that the central government's treatment of Kerala was disappointing. She called for the central government to act beyond political lines. The MPs also demanded immediate financial aid for Wayanad.

Alathur MP K Radhakrishnan, in a letter to the Home Minister, expressed insulting attitudes toward Kerala when seeking central assistance. He criticised the central government’s "master-servant" approach and clarified that strong protests would continue against it.

The central government had sent a letter to the state seeking payment of Rs 132.61 crore for various relief operations carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) since 2006. In the letter sent to the Chief Secretary, the IAF Marshal listed several disasters, including the 2019 floods and the Wayanad landslides. The state has been asked to settle the bill immediately.