*Govt accuses NC of playing politics over bodies
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 31: Government today faced embarrassment in the Legislative Assembly as two MLAs of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) joined the Opposition in protest over ‘undue delay’ in rescue operations in the wake of recent floods in Kashmir valley and then staged walkout. Even several members of Coalition partner Bharatiya Janata Party were not satisfied over the administration’s response to situation arisen due to rainfall in different parts of Jammu region.
As soon as proceedings of the House started, all the legislators of National Conference and Congress started protest over, what they alleged, ‘inadequate’ response to the prevailing situation and ‘undue delay’ in the rescue operations particularly in Budgam district where 15 bodies were retrieved from the debris.
In the meanwhile, some BJP MLAs too started protest and said that in many areas the administration has not reached the affected populace. They demanded that directions should be issued to the official machinery for prompt response to the people in distress.
The Government faced major embarrassment when two PDP MLAs—Zahoor Mir and Mushtaq Ahmed left their seats and moved near the Well of the House in protest against non-availability of dewatering pumps in their respective constituencies.
Though Speaker, Kavinder Gupta and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Basharat Bukhari, tried to convince the Opposition MLAs as well as those of PDP that Government would apprise the House about latest development but their efforts failed to bring order.
“We had given prior information to the Government about the situation in Budgam but the Government was insensitive towards the lives of people. If they had acted in a timely manner so many lives could have been saved”, National Conference MLA, Ali Mohammad Sagar said.
Another National Conference MLA, Mubarak Gul said, “it is because of the Government’s slackness that so many people have lost lives in Budgam”, adding “by not taking the issue raised on the floor of Assembly seriously, the Government has also shown disrespect to the House”.
Amidst continuous protest from the Opposition MLAs as well as two PDP Legislators, who refused to return to their seats despite directions from the Chair, Minister for Haj and Auqaf, Abdul Rehman Veeri said, “we appreciate your concern but at the same time you must be thankful to the Government for its prompt response to the situation”, adding “Chief Minister himself rushed to Srinagar from Union Capital and personally visited different parts of Srinagar city to take stock of the situation”.
“Where were your Ministers during September 2014 floods”, he shouted at Opposition, adding “at that time Government was completely missing but this time we wasted no time in reaching out the affected people”. He further said that adequate amount has been kept at the disposal of Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu for relief and rescue operations.
Pointing towards the protest of PDP MLAs near Well of the House, National Conference MLA, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi said, “your own MLAs are not satisfied with the Government’s response to the situation”. Amidst Nikami Sarkar Hai Hai slogans, all the Opposition MLAs staged walk-out. They were followed by both the PDP MLAs.
Later, talking to media-persons outside the Assembly, Mubarak Gul said, “so many people have died because of the negligent attitude of this Government. Timely action could have saved these lives but unfortunately they didn’t do anything”.
He said that the Government was informed that people were living in a vulnerable house and were required to be shifted. “The entire village where these people have died is mourning the loss and the Government is not concerned about their woes”, another NC MLA Ali Mohammed Sagar said.
Accusing the Central Government of showing insensitivity towards the flood-hit people, CPI (M) MLA M Y Tarigami said that Union Government must share the responsibility and come forward to help in rescue and rehabilitation of the affected people.
“Government of India in my opinion does not seem to be serious, they have not treated us at par with other flood-hit States. They have released only Rs 200 crore, which we feel is highly insufficient”, he said.
Congress Legislature Party leader Rigzin Jora expressed disappointment with the response of the Government towards the situation facing the State in view of incessant rains. He accused the Coalition of wasting two months in Government formation, which could have been utilized for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
He warned the Government to be serious in dealing with the impending dangers so that precious lives and properties can be saved.
However, Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar, while talking to reporters outside the Assembly, accused the Opposition particularly National Conference of playing politics over the sufferings of the people.
“The allegation of misleading the House is baseless. There was no casualty when the Chief Minister made a statement in the House and at that time rescue operation was going on”, he further said, adding “it is unfortunate that National Conference is playing politics over the bodies of people”.
Later, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Syed Basharat Bukhari presented a detailed status report on the incident of land erosion in village Laden of Tehsil Chadoora in the House.
He said 221 families were evacuated from various areas and lodged in the tents provided by the district administration and also in the Government buildings situated in safer places in the respective areas. All the necessary steps to provide free ration, water and basic amenities were taken so as to ensure that the evacuated people do not face any sort of inconvenience.
However, 64 families preferred to stay with their relatives and did not avail the facility of staying in tents or Government buildings. He said the spot where the ill fated incident took place leading to death of 16 persons was also visited by the Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, along with the locals of the area. He said the locals had informed the Deputy Commissioner that the spot was not vulnerable to any land erosion or landside.
“Till now 15 dead bodies have been recovered and one body is yet to be retrieved for which the efforts were on”, he said.
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