Government missing in action, says Rana

Excelsior Correspondent

NC delegation visiting Rajouri District Hospital to enquire about the condition of shelling victims
NC delegation visiting Rajouri District Hospital to enquire about the condition of shelling victims

RAJOURI, Aug 17: Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana today charged BJP of exploiting J&K border situation to the hilt for furthering electoral prospectus during the last parliamentary and assembly elections, saying when it actually came to rescuing the shelling sufferers on volatile Line of Control or International Border they have shown their backs, true to their inherent character.
“Where is the Government”, Mr Rana, who is camping along with a high level National Conference delegation in the affected area for the second consecutive day, asked and referred to four hours crucial delay in making available ambulances for evacuating the injured to nearest hospitals. He said the PDP-BJP Government cannot abdicate its responsibility in the loss of life that could have been said if timely medical and transportation facilities would have been available.
State Vice President Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari, State Secretary Th Racchpal Singh, MLA Javed Rana, Provincial Youth National Conference President Ajaz Jan, Provincial Vice President Bashir Ahmed Wani and District President Rajouri Shaffayat Khan form part of the delegation.
The Provincial President expressed surprise over stoic silence maintained by PDP-BJP combine over the border situation, as they had incited passions during the election campaign when International Borders along Kathua and Samba had turned hot nearly two years ago. “Now the BJP Government at the Centre and its extension in Jammu and Kashmir are showing worse type of callousness and insensitivity by leaving the border victims to their destiny”, he added.
Asking the Governments in New Delhi and in Srinagar to shun performance inertia and come to brass tracks for meeting the situation arisen in the wake of continued shelling in Poonch and Rajouri belt, Mr Rana sought a package for the shelling victims and formulation of a contingency plan to meet the challenge.
“National Conference demands ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakhs to the next of kin of those killed in the shelling, Rs 7.50 lakh to those rendered disable due to injuries and Rs 5 lakhs to seriously injured besides free specialised treatment to all those hurt in the shelling”, he said, adding that two persons in the family of deceased and one person each of those rendered disabled or suffered serious injuries should be provided jobs on immediate basis. He also sought stationing of critical care ambulances at the vulnerable villages besides Trauma Hospitals at Bhimber Gali in Mendhar and Khait in Mandi.
The Provincial President reiterated the demand for providing safe shelter sheds and bunkers in close vicinity of the vulnerable villages, where the dwellers can move during critical times and also continue with their avocations. He said the demand for plots to the border sufferers has been pending for long which needs time bound consideration.
The delegation visited the residences of each of the family which lost their dear ones in the shelling and expressed condolences. They also visited District Hospital Rajouri and enquired about the condition of injured undergoing treatment.