Kerala temple tragedy: The big debate - VVIP visits hamper rescue ops at disaster zones?

New Delhi: Kerala police chief​ TP Senkumar has triggered a big debate after he revealed that he had objected to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kollam within hours of the tragedy at a temple during a fireworks display that left over 100 dead.

The DGP said the visit by the PM and later by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi – both SPG protectees – put pressure on the police machinery when the entire department was busy in rescue and relief work.

However, the Kerala government has strongly defended the visit by the Prime Minister to Kollam.

Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy said that the “PM's visit was a great relief to people”.

Justifying the VVIP visits, the CM said the presence and advice of the national leaders came as a great help in the aftermath of the tragedy.

State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala added that the visit by the PM had in no way affected the rescue operations.

Terming the issue raised by the DGP as a “non-issue”, Chennithala stressed that not even a single patient was affected due to VVIP movements.

“Naturally there's a pressure on the police (when VVIPs come), but their visit did not hinder rescue operations,” he said.

The entire issue has triggered a debate on whether it is right on the part of VVIPs to visit disaster zones when the entire state machinery is focused on providing relief.

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