Former Minister criticizes Govt for delay in bringing stranded persons

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 9: Former Minister and president DCC Kathua, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma today criticised the UT Administration and Government of India for delay in bringing stranded persons outside J&K and said this delay is further adding to their woes.
He said the stranded people are calling him and complaining that the helpline numbers provided by the Government were not operational. “Many persons have even started their journey on the foot and are hiring private vehicles at sky high costs to reach their home due to lack of support and arrangement from the Government,” he said.
He further said that he was regularly receiving phone calls from the stranded people at Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, UP and Utrrakhand, Delhi, Goa, Chhattisgarh and many other states for early evacuation. “They have out of pocket and most of them will die due to starvation rather than viral outbreak,” he added.
“Several labourers had complained of deteriorating health conditions with no medical aid being provided to them. The labourers are repeatedly requesting for their safe evacuation but no one in the UT to listen to their grievances,” said Manohar.
Dr Sharma appealed the Lieutenant Governor and the Central Government to take immediate steps for the evacuation of stranded people outside Jammu and Kashmir, so that they can reach their home.