Avtar Bhat
—Excelsior/Rakesh
JAMMU, Nov 14: The Union Minister in PMO and Incharge North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today blamed the State Government that instead of utilizing the huge assistance provided by Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the flood victims it unnecessary indulged into blame game.
While talking to reporters here, today along with BJP national general secretary, Ram Madhav and BJP State president and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, Dr Singh accused the State Government of ignoring the in time warnings given by the Metereological Department about floods, which ravaged the Kashmir Valley, particularly the Srinagar City in September this year.
Dr Singh said instead of utilizing the Central assistance and putting its men and machinery into action for rehabilitation of victims, the State Government parroted its one point agenda of declaring the floods in the State as national calamity.
Had the State Government taken timely action and pressed its men and machinery for preemptive measures, the situation could have been saved from taking such an ugly turn, he added.
“We had issued similar flood warnings to the Governments of Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir to undertake measures in this regard. While Uttarakhand Government responded to flood warnings as the State had suffered a heavy loss last year, J&K government ignored it,” Singh added.
Dr Singh and other BJP leaders who were replying to volley of questions on the blame game over floods that battered Kashmir valley, particularly Srinagar city, resulting in huge loss of lives and damage to the property termed all the allegations made by the State Government baseless. The State Government indulged into the blame game instead of putting up its men and machinery in action as baseless, he added.
“Nobody (in J&K) bothered when water level crossed the danger mark (despite issuance of several Met department warnings) and entire Srinagar City sunk,” he said. No one took action to stop construction of Shopping Malls on river beds, he added.
“I personally monitored the situation at the Met office and was instrumental in sending alerts to J&K Government under my own supervision about abnormally high rainfall hitting Pir-Panchal in South and Central Kashmir’’, he said, adding the Government remained in deep slumber even when the flashfloods wreaked havoc in districts of Jammu region and Kashmir valley.
Singh released a two-page chargesheet against Jammu and Kashmir Government for its failure to take call on floods to save hundreds of lives and damage caused to infrastructure. He also questioned the preparedness on part of Omar government to save J&K from flood fury.
The charge sheet mentioned that Met office warnings and alerts were sent to Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Chief Engineer Mechanical Division, Flood Control and other officials on September 2, 3 (twice in the day), 4, 5 and 6 before the floods inundated Srinagar summer capital.
“We went beyond our duty to warn J&K Government that continuous rains could trigger major floods and landslides, disrupt road and air transport but these warnings were not further furnished by these departments to the general public,” he said.
Charging Jammu and Kashmir Government over the issue, he said no alerts were sounded by its flood control department or respective Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar and Anantnag district about the magnitude of the water that was approaching Srinagar city.
Government’s unpreparedness despite the Met warnings could be gauged from the fact that entire Government got trapped in the floods and were battling for survival, he said.
Instead, allegations were levelled on the Central Government and a demand was made to declare the Floods in the State as a natural calamity when the Centre made it clear that the assistance and help given by it was much beyond being given under natural calamity, Singh said.
He said Centre responded much quicker and next day Union Minister, Raj Nath Singh and I visited the State to assess the situation. The HM assured full support and asked the State Government to utilize Rs 1100 crore out of Central assistance lying unutilized with it for the relief work.
This was followed by visit of PM next day who announced an additional package of Rs 1000 crore. Later all Union Ministers visited the State and announced special packages. Even on Diwali the PM gave another special package, he said adding Centre did not shirk its responsibility but it was the State Government which had no point to criticize indulged into criticism for the sake of criticism.
Replying to a question about Rs 44,000 crore package submitted to the Centre by the State Government, he said, “State came with its own survey figure of Rs 44,000 crore”.
Questioning the way survey was conducted by the State Government to arrive at a figure of Rs 44,000 crore, he said, we had asked the State Government about the parameter adopted to arrive at such a figure but they did not come forward.
“We have suggested to them for a joint survey and lend our helping hand but they seem to have shied away,” he said.
Maintaining that BJP will form its Government on its own, Ram Madhav said that people in the State are enthusiastic to vote for BJP this time and “we are getting a good response in Kashmir Valley also to accomplish the Mission 44+’’.
BJP is contesting this election with Mission 44+ in the State and Party is contesting on 70 seats in the State, said Mr Madhav. While candidates for maximum seats have been announced the remaining will be announced within some days, he added.
The BJP’s poll plank will be development, good governance with corruption free administration, he said.
“If J&K is to be taken on the path of progress like other parts of country under the leadership of Narendra Modi then the people of the State have a golden opportunity to end the hegemony of father son and father daughter duo parties, said Dr Jitendra Singh.
Dr Singh said while the State Government is facing the anti incumbency factor this myth has been exploded for BJP ruled States like MP and Chhatisgarh which got a massive mandate for third consecutive time.
He said the leaders who had launched a hate Modi campaign and said that they will jump into the sea later made a beeline to welcome Modi with bouquets.
He said with this objective the party has started its campaign in the State with full enthusiasm and the spirit of its activists is high.
Ram Madhav also denied that Party is compromising on its agenda saying that the same will be reflected in its poll manifesto to be released soon.
He said the Party has not changed its stand on Article 370 but there are many more issues which need attention during these elections.
The BJP leader also denied that Party has joined hands with separatists while replying to a question regarding recent meeting of Sajjad Gani Lone of People’s Conference with Prime Minister.
He said there is a difference between separatists and those who contest elections under Indian Constitution. “If any body is ready to join PM’s bandwagon for reconstruction and development of J&K we welcome it’’ he added.
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