Opposition stages walkout from J&K Assembly over flood relief operations

Jammu, March 31

The members of opposition National Conference and Congress on Tuesday staged a walkout from the Legislative Assembly accusing the government of "undue delay" in rescue operations in the wake of recent floods in the Valley.

(See Video: Uproar in J&K Assembly over floods)

Two members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)- Mushtaq Ahmed Shah and Zahoor Mir, also staged a walkout protesting the non-availability of dewatering pumps in their constituencies.

Opposition members staged a walkout after protesting in the House.

"We had given prior information to the government about the situation in Budgam but the government was insensitive towards the lives of people. If they had acted in a timely manner so many lives could have been saved" NC MLA Ali Mohammed Sagar said.

The opposition members stood on their benches and demanded that the proceedings of the house be adjourned and the government must reply on the situation of the floods in Kashmir.

The government, however, said that it would give a reply in the House at 12:30 pm.

"As we did yesterday, the government will give a reply in the House at 12:30 pm. We will inform the house about the situation," Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basharat Bukhari said.

The opposition members, who were not satisfied with the reply staged a walkout from the Assembly.

"So many people have died because of the negligent attitude of this government. Timely action could have saved these lives but unfortunately they didn't do anything," NC MLA Mubarakh Gul told reporters outside the assembly.

He said that the government was informed that people were living in a vulnerable house and had been requested to shift them.

"The entire village where these people have died is mourning the loss and the government is not concerned about their woes" NC MLA Ali Mohammed Sagar said.

He said that timely action could have saved the lives of people who died in Budgam.

"If they had shown seriousness and rescue operations were launched on time, so many lives could have been saved", Sagar said.

Accusing the central government of showing insensitivity towards the flood-hit people of Jammu and Kashmir, CPI (M) MLA M Y Tarigami said that Union Government must share the responsibility and come forward to help in rescue and rehabilitation of the affected people.

"Government of India in my opinion does not seem to be serious, they have not treated us at par with other flood-hit states. They have released only Rs 200 crore, which we feel is highly insufficient," he said.

He also accused the PDP-BJP government in the state of delay in acting, "this is unfortunately the biggest tragedy, so many people have died, despite so many forecasts no measures were taken. If they had acted on a timely manner this tragedy could have been averted". PTI