Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 5 (PTI) BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday accused the Keralam government of trying to shift the blame on the Centre and NHAI for the road accident in Thrissur that claimed the lives of eight students.
Eight students from Tamil Nadu died at Kaipamangalam in Thrissur after their car rammed into a parked lorry on NH-66 on Friday night.
Chief Minister VD Satheesan and Sports Minister OJ Janeesh raised concerns about recurring accidents and safety issues on roads maintained by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in Keralam after the accident.
Chandrasekhar said the state government should take responsibility for its alleged lapses and implement immediate corrective measures rather than blame others for the tragedy.
Though construction of national highways is the responsibility of the Centre, patrolling the highways, acting against vehicles parked illegally and enforcing traffic rules come under the state police and Motor Vehicles Department, he said.
“If a large vehicle was illegally parked at a crucial stretch of the road and the state traffic system failed to detect and remove it, the state government cannot evade responsibility,” Chandrasekhar said.
He also criticised the government for focusing on collecting fines through AI cameras while allegedly failing to take timely action against heavy vehicles committing serious traffic violations.
“The government should act more responsibly in enforcing traffic rules and ensuring the safety of people,” he said.
Chandrasekhar urged the state government to end what he termed a political approach of blaming the Centre to cover up its own lapses and instead accept responsibility.
He also expressed his condolences to the families of the eight students who died in the accident. PTI TBA TBA KH
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