Jai Ram flays govt’s handling of disaster relief

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led state government, accusing it of insensitivity, misinformation and inefficiency in handling the recent natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh.

Speaking at a press conference, Thakur said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was not just limited to electoral politics but stood by society in times of crisis. He criticised the state government for failing to take adequate precautionary measures before the monsoon season despite clear warnings. “When disaster struck, instead of effective rescue and relief operations, the government indulged in false and misleading claims. Even in the Assembly session, the Chief Minister remained absent and prioritised political events outside the state,” Thakur alleged.

Highlighting the situation during the Manimahesh Yatra, Thakur said the government underreported the number of stranded pilgrims. “While the Deputy Chief Minister initially claimed 3,300 people were stranded, ground reports suggested over 10,000. Ultimately, around 15,000 devotees were affected, yet the government continued to mislead the public,” he said.

He also questioned the delay in requisitioning Army helicopters for rescue operations and claimed that the helicopters pressed into service were not defence resources but hired civilian aircraft meant for transportation.

Thakur alleged that despite receiving over Rs 5,000 crore through SDRF and NDRF since 2023, and an additional Rs 1,500 crore recently announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government failed to deliver meaningful relief to affected families.

“Victims who lost their homes, orchards, livestock, and land received little to no assistance. The state government is running itself on disaster funds rather than supporting victims,” he charged.

“For the first time in Himachal’s history, a Prime Minister visited during such a calamity, conducted an aerial of disaster-hit areas including Chamba, met affected families, and announced Rs 1,500 crore in relief. Yet, Congress leaders hesitated even to thank him,” he said.

Thakur also pointed out that many areas in Chamba, Kullu and Manali continue to face road blockages, power outages, and supply shortages. Contractors, he said, had withdrawn machinery due to non-payment, raising questions on the credibility of the state government.

Calling for urgent focus on restoring road infrastructure, Thakur warned that the apple economy worth nearly ?5,000 crore was on the verge of collapse due to broken connectivity.

“This tragedy has pushed Himachal decades back. The least the state government can do is ensure that the relief actually reaches victims, instead of hiding behind excuses and false numbers,” Thakur said. Rajya Sabha Member Harsh Mahajan and State BJP president Rajeev Bindal was also present on the occasion. Later, the BJP leaders visited the disaster-hit areas in Chamba Assembly segment.