Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 21: JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla today accused BJP Government led by PM Modi of showing “brazen bias” against Jammu in the ongoing flood, cloudburst and landslide crisis.
Addressing a gathering after distributing relief among flood victim families in Ward-73, Bhour Camp in presence of Amrit Bali, Pawan Bhagat, Gurcharan, Harbans Lal, Rajinder and Gagandeep Randhawa today, Bhalla said the devastation in Jammu has been severe, with lives lost, homes destroyed, roads and bridges washed away and several areas cut off. Yet, he alleged, the Government’s response has been apathetic.
Bhalla alleged while PM is busy in Bihar with his cabinet and local MLAs, Home Minister and Defence Minister visited Jammu only briefly, skipped the worst-hit interiors. He pointed out that even after considerable time, drinking water supply has not been restored in parts of Jammu city, while rural belts remain neglected. Bhalla further claimed that Union Govt sidelined Jammu during the visit of Inter-Ministerial Central teams and even during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s tour of affected areas. Calling the governance “partisan and unacceptable,” Bhalla demanded an overhaul of the relief mechanism, deployment of Ministers in affected areas and immediate redressal of public grievances.
Bhalla said the BJP should rise to the occasion instead of indulging in blame games. “Pointing fingers won’t hide the fact that the BJP has been missing in action,” he said adding, “their leadership vanished when people needed them the most.
Accusing the BJP Govt of indulging in “flood tourism” by going for only aerial surveys of flood-hit areas, Bhalla said lakhs of people have been left to fend for themselves. Instead of relief, the Govt is only offering hollow assurances. People and livestock were marooned in villages and far-flung areas are without food, drinking water, medicines and fodder for animals, Bhalla said .
Questioning BJP MPs and MLAs absence from flood affected areas, Bhalla highlighted the proactive role of Congress representatives, and said Congress leaders and workers have stood shoulder to shoulder with the people, participating in rescue and relief operations.
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