Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Aug 16: Rapping PDP-BJP combine for its callousness towards border dwellers, Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana today asked why the people in vulnerable areas were not shifted to safer areas.
“The State Government is squarely responsible for the latest killing of civilians in Poonch-Balakote sector, as it allowed people to be fodder of the canons”, Mr Rana told media persons while leading a party delegation to the affected village to take stock of the situation and to express solidarity with the sufferers.
The delegation visited the affected village on the directions of the party President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President Omar Abdullah. It was the first and the only such political group that reached the affected village amidst shelling and against wishes of the District Administration.
State Vice President and former Minister Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari and the State Secretary Th Racchpal Singh accompanied the Provincial President. The MLA Mendhar Javed Rana, Provincial Youth NC President Ajaz Jan, Provincial Vice President Bashir Ahmed Wani and District President Shafayat Khan also joined the delegation and met the terrified people.
Mr Rana observed that despite the Line of Control in Poonch-Rajouri sector becoming hot for the past several days, the Government did not bother to assess the situation and to move the people to safety. “It has shown criminal negligence by allowing the situation precipitate and reach such a point where death becomes inevitable”, he said while lamenting over the lack of medical assistance and ambulances to meet the situation.
He said National Conference President and the functionaries down below kept visiting the forward areas and cautioning against threat to lives but still the rudderless administration chose to remain a mute spectator. “This happens when there is no political will to face the situation, which is turning worse with each passing day”, he added.
When asked about the failure of the Centre in allowing the situation to drift, Mr Rana quipped, “This is for the BJP led NDA to explain but we can only say that hype and bravado were no solution to problem, which needs cautious and sagacious approach”.
“National Conference condemns the shelling which has cost dearly to the State in terms of death and destruction”, he said, adding that the Government must show some sort of sensitivity and responsibility towards the suffering people. While no amount will compensate the precious human loss yet ex-gratia to the next of kin should be provided on immediate basis and all assistance provided to the people living in wilderness away from their homes and hearths in the wake of continuous shelling, he added.
The Provincial President also sought deployment of mobile medical teams and posting of special officers to provide much needed assistance to the people. He stressed the need for evolving a contingency plan for meeting such situation from Line of Control in Poonch to International Border in Kathua.
The delegation met the sufferers and assured them that National Conference is with them at this crucial hour. They also visited the residence of NC Sarpanch Karamatullah, who was among those killed in the shelling, and prayed for eternal peace to departed soul. They also conveyed condolences of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah to the bereaved families.
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