Amid widespread devastation, trading of charges by leaders to score brownie points uncalled for

As Himachal tries to heal the wounds of devastation inflicted by cloudbursts and flashfloods, politics and trading of charges by ‘netas’ is the last thing one expects at a time when so many lives have been lost and hundreds have been rendered homeless.

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The levelling of allegations and attempts to score brownie points are synonymous with politics and should not be resorted to during such a tragedy when the entire state is expected to stand united. However, remarks by politicians have not only hurt and made angry all those who have been affected by the rain fury but also the general public.

Actor-turned politician and Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut’s utterances have made matters worse. Everyone questioned her absence from the rain-hit areas of Mandi, embarrassing the BJP, and she later arrived only to add fuel to fire.

Rather than offering solace to the affected people, Kangana accused the state government of corruption and misusing central funds given earlier. She made sweeping statements without any substantiated proof of irregularities, making herself a laughing stock with videos of her outburst flooding social media. One may view it as an act of ignorance or brazenness but this kind of brash behaviour at the time of a tragedy is uncalled for.

Kangana’s arch rival Vikramaditya Singh, Public Works Department Minister, visited some of the affected villages. He lambasted Kangana for her “non-seriousness” about the disaster and making a mockery of it. The two are very active on social media and often engage in a verbal duel involving distasteful remarks.

The discomfiture of Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur over Kangana’s frivolous remarks was too evident, as he stood beside her. As she washed her hands of her responsibility stating that she had no Cabinet or bureaucrats to assist her, she only vindicated the allegations that she failed to fit into the role of a public representative levelled against her. She even went to the extent of stating that her job is only to get central funds and relief and rehabilitation are not her responsibility.

In sharp contrast, Jai Ram Thakur won hearts with his untiring efforts to stand with his people in this hour of grief. He trudged more than 20 km a day to reach out to every affected village where road connectivity had been snapped in his native constituency of Seraj. State Congress president Pratibha Singh, too, visited some affected villages and consoled the affected people, assuring them of all possible government help. She refrained from making any distasteful remarks.