Govt failed to rehabilitate flood-hit people of state, says Omar Abdullah

“As a fixed-match, a Cabinet minister in the PDP-BJP government has opposed the Deputy Chief Minister’s statement and expressed shock. These theatrics cannot absolve the PDP-BJP government of its unforgivable failure of ensuring the rehabilitation of thousands of flood victims,” the NC working said.

Omar was addressing a party workers’ meeting at Gagerpora, Narbal in his Beerwah Assembly constituency in central Kashmir.

Bukhari yesterday attacked the Deputy Chief Minister over his alleged comments that “Rs 3,600 crore was sufficient for rehabilitation of flood victims”.

Today, the Deputy CM denied having said that Rs 3,600 crore was the final rehabilitation package for the victims of last year’s floods in Kashmir.

Omar said that both PDP and BJP, including its legislators and Cabinet ministers, were part of a Government that has “abandoned” the flood victims and gone to the extent of “rubbing salt” into their wounds by dispensing 47 rupees cheques.

“The PDP-BJP government had completely failed in its responsibility towards compensating and rehabilitating flood victims even as nine months have passed since the September deluge. There is no sign of a relief and rehabilitation package for the flood victims from the Centre,” he said.

The NC working president said there was “complete anarchy and chaos” within the government while the people were left to fend for themselves.

“The Government is busy in U-turns. The administration

is running around in circles as there is a lack of clear vision and direction from the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues. The tourism season has suffered because of the government’s ineptness and negligence and that has in turn adversely hit the state’s economy.

“All previous successful initiatives taken by the previous Government for job creation have been shelved. The New Administrative Units are not being supported financially so that they function and help in the resolution of public grievances,” Omar said.

He lashed out at the Government for perpetuating an “acute ration crisis” in the state.

“There is an acute and widespread ration crisis in the state. The PDP-BJP government has washed its hands off its basic responsibilities. There is a growing governance deficit in the state as the Chief Minister seems to be more interested in Bollywood luncheons, whirlwind tours and contradictions.

“Almost three and a half months have passed and the treasuries are running dry while the Finance Minister has suddenly disappeared leaving the people without any concrete answers,” he said.