Money pooled in by parties drowns voices of naysayers
Political parties in the national Capital, on Friday, came all out to help in the relief and rescue operations in flood-ravaged Jammu & Kashmir. A flood of money pooled in by a clutch of parties drowned the voices of naysayers. While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MlAs decided to donate Rs 5.4 crore, the Delhi BJP too announced that all its MlAs and councillors will donate a month’s salary and allowances to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.
“We have decided that all BJP MlAs and councillors will donate a month’s salary and allowances to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund for help of Jammu & Kashmir flood victims,” said Delhi BJP chief, Satish Upadhyay. He said that BJP has set up a special centre in the office premises for collecting relief material for the flood victims.
“BJP is receiving relief material from various trader organisations and RWAs. The party has decided that in view of the ensuing winter season, the party will send about 5,000 woollen sweaters for children next week itself,” he added. He also said that on September 14, a truck with 750 blankets, 200 tents, rice, pulses and other food items will be dispatched for Jammu from the Delhi Pradesh Office.
Meanwhile, AAP MlAs also decided to collectively contribute Rs 5.40 crore in the Kashmir relief fund. The 27 AAP legislators will donate Rs 20 lakh from the MlA Development Fund. “A decision to donate money for the relief operations in Jammu & Kashmir was taken at a meeting of AAP MlAs,” said Manish Sisodia, senior AAP leader.
“As per the provision, MlAs can donate money up to Rs 35 lakh for any natural calamity or disaster,” an AAP leader said. The party is yet to take a decision on whether it will donate the money to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund or the Jammu & Kashmir CM’s Relief Fund or some other private fund. He said the party has been mobilising relief material for the flood victims and had asked Delhi Cantt MlA Surinder Singh to take charge of operations. Besides, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) also donated Rs 1 crore as advance for immediate relief in the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the people of Jammu & Kashmir. The fund was announced by Jalaj Shrivastava, Chairman, NDMC.