Intensifying his attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi has alleged that the Bihar Government’s complete indifference to the plight of State’s pilgrims stranded at Kedarnath was no less than an act of criminal negligence, hurting religious sentiments of the people at large.
Modi told mediapersons in Patna on Sunday that the criminal negligence of the State Government could be understood by one simple fact that the Government’s relief camp became functional only on June 24, when the natural calamity struck Uttarakhand on June 16.
He said that Nitish Kumar, instead of taking some immediate and strong measures, depended on his officers and the Government’s entire exercise was not only very late but also very inadequate.
“We are very sad over the manner in which pilgrims from Bihar were treated by the Nitish Kumar Government,” he said, adding that he will also observe a day-long fast on July 8 against the indifferent approach of the Government.
The Bihar Government has insulted the people by ignoring the sufferings of pilgrims, stranded at various places in Uttarakhand.
Instead of appreciating efforts made by Chief Ministers of both BJP and Congress-ruled States for carrying out relief operation for the benefit of pilgrims from their respective states, JD (U) leaders are busy with criticising Narendra Modi for his remarkable job in ensuring safe return of pilgrims to their respective native places in Gujarat, he added.
Former Deputy Chief Minister said that the State Government totally failed in providing succour to the State’s pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand and the Government found it convenient to ignore the seriousness of the situation though well reflected through the aerial survey of the areas ravaged by flash floods and landslide by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself on June 19.
Modi said that the role of the State Government`s relief camp is confined only to providing some basic information to pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand. The State Government, however, did not make any arrangements for providing lodging facilities to pilgrims either at Guptakashi or Dehradun by hiring big buildings.
He said that the State Government has not sent a single doctor to Uttarakhand till now, demonstrating its total apathy to the plight of pilgrims. Unlike other State Governments, Bihar Government also did not arrange special trains or buses for the benefit of pilgrims.
Meanwhile, JD (U) Spokersperson Shivanand Tiwari said that BJP leaders are unnecessarily making allegations against the State Government.
Unlike Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar is neither Rambo nor Robin Hood who could rescue 15,000 people at one time in Uttarakhand, he remarked He said that BJP leaders are making baseless allegations in frustration after they were removed from the power recently.