BJP helped disaster-hit people, Congress was absent in action: Bindal

State BJP president Rajeev Bindal yesterday criticised Congress leaders for their alleged failure to help disaster-hit people.

Bindal, while addressing mediapersons here, said that major rain disasters occurred in Himachal Pradesh in three phases — Mandi district was the first to be affected while Kullu and Chamba districts were hit later. “BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have visited Himachal and seven BJP Union Ministers are working in the field. The Congress, however, is absent in action,” he added.

He said, “From the very first day, the BJP has been supporting the disaster-hit families, emulating the “Sewa he Sangathan’’ slogan. We have been working in the field to help hapless families.” He added, “The party functionaries worked day and night in inaccessible areas and lifted ration manually. In Chamba district, the Manimahesh pilgrimage was severally hit and owing to its religious significance, it hogged headlines in the media nationwide. Sirmaur, Hamirpur and Bilaspur, too, were hit by the rain disaster while districts like Solan, Shimla, etc., were partially affected.”

Bindal said, “The BJP distributed 18,000 kits containing ration, tarpaulins, buckets and mugs to the disaster-hit families. As many as 4,800 relief kits and 42 truckloads of relief material will reach Chamba on Saturday night. Six trucks loaded with relief materials have already reached the district. On Sunday, the Governor is also going to hand over a consignment of relief material to the Chamba district administration.”

Bindal lauded the party functionaries for starting the relief work within 24 hours of the disaster while the Congress leaders were absent in action till date.