Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 30: All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi today said that both the Centre and the J&K Government should work jointly to rehabilitate the flood affected people of the Jammu and Kashmir State.
Talking to the media persons during her visit to flood affected areas of Jammu region and a relief distribution programme here today, Mrs Gandhi said, “Presently, the big question is how to rehabilitate the flood affected people in such a situation and to provide them space to rebuild their houses.”
In response to another question AICC president said, “We should not play politics over such issues. The Centre and the State Governments need to work together for the rehabilitation of the rain and flood affected people of the State,” she maintained.
Mrs Gandhi, who along with AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni and Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz visited flood hit areas of Poonch and Surankote today said that party workers, Congress leaders and Youth activists of the party besides NGOs were active in relief distribution. “Every body was contributing but there is need to do much more.”
Referring to her visit to Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley, AICC president said that she met the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who disclosed that detailed report on the damages, relief and rehabilitation besides other requirements is being prepared and it is being submitted to the Union Government shortly.
To a question where she was satisfied with the relief process, Mrs Gandhi said, “I do not want to play politics on this issue. Every body is contributing and it is the collective responsibility of all, including State and the Central Governments.”
Commenting on the allegations of NCP leader Sharad Pawar holding Congress responsible for breaking away with his party, Mrs Sonia said, “Neither because of me, nor Rahul or Congress the alliance with NCP has ended.”
AICC president accompanied by Rahul Gandhi, Azad, Ambika Soni and Prof Soz interacted with the flood and rain affected people from Rajpura Bhatta in Nowshera, Akhnoor, Khour, Reasi, Phallain Mandal, Marh and other areas of Jammu here. They listened to their miseries and grievances and assured every possible support. They also listened to the tragedy that struck to a marriage party bus which was washed away at Rajpura Bhatta in Nowshera and shared their grief with a group of bereaved family members. Both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi distributed relief packets among the flood affected victims.
Earlier, Dy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister for Youth Services and Sports Raman Bhalla, Minister for PHE, I&FC Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra, Minister of State for Revenue (Ind Charge) Ajaz Ahmed Khan and Minister of State for Cooperatives Dr Manohar Lal, National Conference MLC- Devender Singh Rana and some other Congress leaders received the AICC president at the Airport.
Several senior PCC members, heads of Congress frontal organisations, former legislators and Ministers besides members of Congress Relief Committee were present at the function held at State Guest House here.
In Poonch, Rahul Gandhi said that during flood in Uttarakhand the then UPA Government had carried out major relief and rescue operation. He demanded that relief in J&K be provided on the pattern of Uttarakhand. Rahul said that they have come here to have first hand information about damages and their miseries.
Mrs Gandhi, Rahul and other senior party leaders visited Sher-e-Kashmir Bridge at Poonch and of two temporary relief camps at Gujjar Hostel and Dashnami Akhara Bhawan. DC and SSP besides local MLA and some legislators accompanied them. They interacted with the victims and assured all possible help from State Government and the Congress Party. Dy Commissioner M H Malik apprised the visiting top AICC leaders of the relief and rehabilitation work carried out till today. He also disclosed that ex-gratia has been given for 19 cases. At Surankote, Congress leaders also met the flood affected people at Dak Bungalow and listened to their woes and grievances. Additional DC Poonch, Mumtaz Ali briefed them about the rescue and relief operation.
Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Ambika Soni after concluding their two day J&K visit, left for Union capital in a special aircraft at 4.15 pm, while Ghulam Nabi Azad and Prof Soz stayed here.
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