CM has no time to meet earthquake victims: Mehbooba

Excelsior Correspondent
ANANTNAG, May 6:  People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today said that the holidaying Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and even his juniors have no time to meet earth quake victims of Doda and Kishtwar and the Government has literally failed to respond after the devastation.
Addressing a public meeting at Akingam in Kokernag constituency today, Ms Mehbooba alleged that State Government appears to be a rudderless boat in which every Minister apparently considers himself as lord. The Chief Minister has no control on his Ministers and the State has reached a stage where even disasters and calamities are unable to move the Government.
Expressing deep concern at the inability of the Government to respond even at a minimal scale to the widespread devastation caused by the earthquake in Doda-Kishtwar region, the PDP leader said that the people there are reduced to virtual destitute but the Government has failed miserably to react. It seems the entire Government is on a holiday with Chief Minister, not finding time even for the aerial survey of the affected areas, she maintained.
There is no proper disaster management agency and it seems that no lessons have been taken after 2005 earthquake in J&K. She said the Government must immediately provide prefabricated houses to the affected families as it is reported that almost 80% of the houses in the region have got damaged. It is dangerous to live any more in these houses.  Ms Mehbooba said National Conference  and Congress which are partners in Government, both at the Centre and in the State, have been passing the buck to each other which might look funny but is causing great distress to the people in general and presently to the victims of the earthquake.
Ms Mehbooba said while Ghulam Nabi Azad took time off his engagements in Centre to visit the affected region and even advised the State on relief and rehabilitation, NC stalwart Dr Farooq Abdullah who is also Union Minister and his son Chief Minister failed to reach upto the masses affected with quake. Dr Abdullah merely wrote to the Prime Minister to help the quake victims of Doda and Kishtwar. In many areas Medical aid reached too late. She alleged that basically Omar led Government has failed to deliver to the people of the State. Ms Mehbooba alleged that ruling politicians are busy in minting money and they have no time for the sufferings of the people. They will come to the people only to seek votes during elections, she added.

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