Jammu: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of indulging in “political theatrics” during his visit to New Delhi while Jammu and Kashmir was dealing with the aftermath of flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides.
Addressing a press conference here, Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma, accompanied by former minister Shama Lal Sharma, MLA Mohan Lal Bhagat, BJP vice-president Dr. Shenaaz Ganaie, general secretary Gopal Mahajan and spokesperson Zorawar Singh Jamwal, alleged that the ruling National Conference had prioritised politics over relief efforts during the crisis.
Sharma said the Chief Minister, as head of the government, should have remained in Jammu and Kashmir to personally monitor rescue and relief operations and ensure all available resources were mobilised for the affected people.
The BJP demanded an ex gratia of ₹20 lakh for the families of those killed in flash floods and cloudbursts, six months’ ration for affected households, immediate rehabilitation of displaced families, restoration of damaged religious institutions and temporary housing for slum dwellers in Rajouri who, it claimed, had lost their homes and belongings. The party also sought similar compensation and relief for families affected by shooting stones in Ragi Nullah in Doda district and for those whose structures were damaged in the Kyar-Dachhan belt of Kishtwar district.
Sharma said a BJP team led by former party president Ravinder Raina had left for Loran Mandi following reports of another cloudburst to assess the situation and meet affected families.
Alleging that the Chief Minister was focused on political activities in the national capital, Sharma said Omar Abdullah should have been supervising rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit districts instead.
He further claimed that many affected families in Rajouri and Poonch were still awaiting immediate assistance and urged the administration to prioritise relief, rehabilitation and restoration of normalcy.
The BJP leaders also said party workers in the affected districts were preparing a comprehensive report on losses to residential and commercial properties, crops, livestock and agricultural land, which would be submitted to the party leadership for taking up the matter with the Union Territory and Central governments.
Sharma alleged that the National Conference government had failed to provide effective leadership during the crisis and reiterated the party’s demand that the Chief Minister devote his full attention to rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.
