BJP played politics over J&K flood relief: Sonia

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday said that the BJP-led government at the Centre was playing politics over relief distribution in flood hit Kashmir.

Gandhi, who addressed an election rally in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, said: “Why is the relief work happening so slowly? The Central government of BJP seems to have nothing to do with your worries. BJP leaders came and made promises, but what they did on ground is known to you.”

She said the polls are taking place at a time when people of Kashmir are yet to come to terms with the devastation caused by floods. “The fact is that the BJP has nothing to do with the problems and woes of the flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir,” she alleged.

Immediately after the devastating flood in September this year, the Jammu and Kashmir government had submitted a package of Rs 44,000 crore for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the flood affected people and infrastructure in the state.

However, the Centre is yet to make any announcement over the fate of the package.

Sonia, whose party is in power in the state with regional National Conference, said despite being in the ruling alliance, the party (Congress), was not able to do much for the people. “The Congress was not able to deliver as much as the party wanted,” she said.

State Congress leaders have also sharpened knives against the National Conference, claiming that NC ministers scuttle the party’s pro-people initiative.