Kerala: Priyanka Gandhi meets Bishop of Thamarassery, man-animal conflict and representation of minorities in Parliament among main issues discussed

Priyanka Gandhi’s Visit to Wayanad: Focus on Community Issues and Wildlife Conflicts

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra kicked off her 10-day visit to her Wayanad constituency in Kerala with a heartfelt meeting at the Bishop House in Thamarassery. On Sunday, she sat down with Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil to chat about pressing local concerns.

The Bishop shared details with reporters after the meeting, calling it a personal visit at Priyanka’s request. While they kept things informal, he opened up about key challenges facing the community. "We discussed representation for our people in Parliament and the growing man-animal conflict in the region," the Bishop said.

He painted a vivid picture of daily fears. "People live just 10 km from the forest, but wild elephants and tigers keep attacking. A tiger recently killed a man, and folks can’t even walk in their fields without worry." The Bishop urged Priyanka to speak up for the poor in Parliament and pushed for a bypass road from Adivaram to Wayanad to avoid landslide blockages.

Attacks on minorities came up too, but the Bishop stayed optimistic. He mentioned an upcoming law to tackle man-animal conflict, though details remain unclear. "Farmers aren’t hunting in the forests—they just want the right to self-defense when animals invade their fields," he added. "This freedom existed before the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act. We’re asking the government to let us protect ourselves and our crops."

Priyanka’s trip aims to dive deep into Wayanad’s problems. Earlier on Friday, she visited the Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology in Kalpetta to learn more about wildlife issues. Speaking to the press, she said, "I’m here for 10 days to really understand the people’s struggles and figure out how I can help fix them. That’s my main goal."

She also checked out the stalled Poozhithode-Padinjarathara road project, talking directly with locals about delays. "I needed to see the issues firsthand," Priyanka told reporters. "I’ve grasped the problems, and a survey has been done." On environmental clearances, she noted, "That’s for the experts to handle. There’s real urgency—people are suffering—but we must balance it with ecology. We need to find that sweet spot."

Through these interactions, Priyanka Gandhi is showing her commitment to Wayanad’s wildlife conflicts, community representation, and infrastructure woes, promising real support for Kerala’s hill district.

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