New Delhi, August 23: Former media advisor to Manmohan Singh, Sanjay Baru referring to the Modi government’s decision of not accepting the grant of Rs 700 Crore from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has said that though the Manmohan government did not accept foreign aid for relief operations in 2004, but it had allowed foreign grants for rehabilitation work. Earlier in the day former foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon also tweeted stating the same thing.

Menon tweeted, “If memory serves, the 2004 decision was not to accept foreign participation in relief but accept it for long-term rehabilitation case by case. No rescue teams needing hand-holding and interpretation but yes to help rebuilding houses, bridges, roads etc. A way forward for Kerala?” Baru responding to Menon’s tweet said that the government should distinguish between normal aid and help in the disaster. The former media advisor to Manmohan Singh tweeted, “You are correct. We said no to relief but accepted support for rehab. Also, one must distinguish between normal aid and help in disaster.  Later more humanitarian. Also, Gulf Kerala relationship is unique. Lots of goodwill for Malayalis in Gulf.”

True that as country we can give rather than take assistance,but 80% of Indians in the Gulf are Malayalis. Offer of flood relief assistance from region must be treated with sensitivity. Saying no is simple, but for Kerala-in-crisis, it’s not so simple. https://t.co/4ojS5gX3BH

— Nirupama Menon Rao (@NMenonRao) August 22, 2018

You are correct. We said no to relief but accepted support for rehab. Also one must distinguish between normal aid and help in disaster. Later more humanitarian. Also Gulf Kerala relatioship is unique. Lots of goodwill for Malayalis in Gulf. @drthomasisaac

— Sanjaya Baru (@barugaru) August 23, 2018

Both Menon and Baru were commenting on former foreign secretary Nirupama Menon Rao's Twitter post in which he highlighted special bond between the Gulf country and Malayali’s. He was of the view that the aid offered to Kerala relief operation should be treated sensitively. The former foreign secretary said, “True that as country we can give rather than take assistance,but 80% of Indians in the Gulf are Malayalis. Offer of flood relief assistance from region must be treated with sensitivity. Saying no is simple, but for Kerala-in-crisis, it’s not so simple.”

Yesterday, the centre refused the UAE’s aid to Kerala which is reeling under floods due to heavy and incessant rains since August 8. The Modi government has even declared it as the ‘calamity of severe nature’. However, the state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wants to accept the foreign aid. He said he would approach the prime minister to discuss it with him.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 23, 2018 04:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).