Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has asked BJP leaders to desist from doing politics over the relief package to Himachal Pradesh by the Central government in the wake of natural calamity and instead request the Prime Minister to give a relief package to the state.
Addressing a gathering at Paddal ground Mandi on Monday he said, “The BJP leaders have been making claims about the relief package given by the Central government after the calamity; the amount received from the Central government till now is of two installments of Rs 180 each – one pending and one advance installment of routine relief amount, besides Rs 190 crore out of pending Rs 351 crore from State Disaster Relief Fund.”
The CM said, “When the state government was busy in relief and restoration work after the worst natural calamity of our times, BJP leaders were demanding convening of Assembly session but their MLAs refused to support the resolution seeking special package and stand with poor people, however people stood with us and liberally contributed Rs 230 crore in Aapda Rahat Kosh and the state government has released a relief package of Rs 4500 crore from our own resources.”
He said, “Despite witnessing massive devastation after the monsoon fury we fought back and all ministers, government officials and employees were involved in relief and restoration work day and night and I myself supervised the restoration of basic amenities in the worst affected Kullu district within 48 hours.”
“The state government evacuated nearly 75000 tourists stranded at different places and also provided them food and all other facilities to send them back home’, he added.
The CM also distributed the first installment of relief to 3800 beneficiaries of Mandi district and assured the development works in Mandi district won’t suffer due to lack of funds and the state would improve its economy with its own resources and emerge as a model state in ten years.
Mandi MP Pratibha Singh, MLAs Anil Sharma and Chandershekahar among others also addressed the gathering.
