Abdullah slams Centre, JK Govt over flood relief package

SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah today attacked the Centre and the State Government over delay in release of relief and rehabilitation package to the victims of last year’s floods, even after passage of one year of the natural calamity.

He alleged that the Central Government has adopted “double standards” in granting relief and rehabilitation package to flood victims of Uttarkhand and that of Jammu and Kashmir, which could have far reaching implications on the psyche of the people, as they feel “let down and discriminated”.

Abdullah said the entire amount of the relief package sought by Uttarakhand Government, after devastating floods in Kedarnath, was released within a month and half of the natural disaster there, while flood victims in J-K were yet to see any signs of a relief and rehabilitation package from the Government of India.

“The double standards between the response of the Central Government in Uttarakhand and the lack of one in J-K was glaring and tragic. Why the double standards between Uttarakhand and Kashmir? Uttarakhand received the entire amount of the relief package sought by the State Government there within the first month and a half of the natural calamity there.

“On the contrary, a year has come to pass since the September floods and J-K is yet to see any signs of a relief and rehabilitation package from the Government of India,” Abdullah said here.

The NC president said the glaring difference between the treatment meted out to Uttarakhand and that exhibited in Kashmir was extremely unfortunate and could have far reaching implications on the psyche of the people. (AGENCIES)