Amid Karnataka-Kerala border standoff, Vijayan and Palaniswami express bond of love

At a time when Kerala and Karnataka are at loggerhes over closure of border ros, gestures of unity and brorhood were seen from chief ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nu on Saturday. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan h on Friday debunked fake news that state h closed its border with Tamil Nu after it witnessed a spike in COVID-19 cases.

Vijayan h said re are some difficulties to travel due to nationwide lockdown, but "that doesn't mean that we will close our borders. We will never do that. y (Tamil Nu) are our brors". His approach was reciprocated by his Tamil Nu counterpart E K Palaniswami, who on Saturday expressed hope that friendship and brorhood between two states would grow.

"Happy that Kerala is showing love and treating TN people as brors and sisters. I wish to state that TN will be an able aid to brors and sisters of Kerala in all ir joy and sorrow. Let this friendship and brorhood grow forever," Palaniswami tweeted.

Vijayan responded and said both states will overcome challenges of pandemic toger.

" relationship between Kerala and Tamil Nu is bonded in love, brorhood, history, langu and culture. People who make fake news can't fathom depth of relationship between two States. Toger we will overcome challenges. Love & Respect," he tweeted.

Tamil Nu has till w reported 485 positive cases, whereas Kerala has 254 cases. Karnataka h closed its borders with Kerala after Kasaragod became a hotspot of coronavirus with at least 123 positive cases till w. Kerala High Court h directed Karnataka to open borders for transport of essential vehicles like ambulances and food trucks but it refused. Karnataka later approached Supreme Court to put a stay on HC order.

Supreme Court has sought responses from Centre and Kerala government on plea of Karnataka. It orally asked Kerala government t to precipitate issue of opening of borders till furr hearing of matter on April 7. rrn part of Kasaragod district in Kerala depends on Mangaluru for medical facilities, especially for dialysis patients. nationwide lockdown and closure of border ros has resulted in loss of seven lives inside Kerala border.