Shivam Bakshi
Jammu, July 21 (NVI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of indulging in “political theatrics” in New Delhi while Jammu and Kashmir was grappling with the aftermath of flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides, particularly in the districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Leader of Opposition in the J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma, accompanied by former minister Shama Lal Sharma, MLA Mohan Lal Bhagat, BJP vice president Dr Shenaaz Ganaie, general secretary Gopal Mahajan and spokesperson Zorawar Singh Jamwal, alleged that the National Conference had “chosen politics over humanity” at a time when rescue and relief operations were underway in rain-hit areas.
Sharma said the Chief Minister, as head of the government, should have remained in Jammu and Kashmir to personally monitor rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures instead of participating in a political protest in New Delhi.
The BJP demanded an ex-gratia of ₹20 lakh for the families of those killed in cloudbursts and flash floods, six months’ free ration for affected families, immediate rehabilitation of those displaced, restoration of damaged religious institutions and temporary shelters for slum dwellers in Rajouri who lost their homes and belongings.
The party also sought similar relief for families affected by shooting stones in Doda’s Ragi Nullah and those whose structures were damaged in the Kyar-Dachhan belt of Kishtwar.
Sharma said a BJP team led by former party president Ravinder Raina had rushed to the cloudburst-affected Loran-Mandi area to assess the situation and meet affected families.
Criticising the Chief Minister, Sharma alleged that Omar Abdullah was more focused on political activities in Delhi than supervising rescue operations in the flood-hit regions.
He claimed that many affected families were still awaiting assistance and said the administration should prioritise relief, rehabilitation and restoration efforts.
The BJP leaders also said party workers in the affected districts were compiling a comprehensive report on losses to houses, commercial establishments, crops, livestock and agricultural land, which would be submitted to the party leadership for further representation before the Union Territory administration and the Centre.
Accusing the National Conference government of failing to respond adequately to the crisis, Sharma alleged that the recent events had exposed the “moral and operational bankruptcy” of the ruling dispensation and urged the Chief Minister to return to Jammu and Kashmir to oversee relief measures. (NVI)
