On the first anniversary of the Uttarakhand disaster, senior BJP leaders under the banner of Akhil Bharatiya Uttarakhand Trashdi Pideett Manch organised a condolence meet on Tuesday. Remembering the tragedy that had claimed lives of thousands, leaders sought a unified policy for hill States to minimise such calamities in future.
Former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi demanded adequate compensation and jobs to family members of those who lost their lives. RSS general secretary Suresh ‘Bhaiyyaji’ Joshi, while attending the meet, also advocated proper policy in this regard.Addressing the flood survivors, Murli Manohar Joshi rued Government apathy in the aftermath of the tragedy. He appealed to the State Government to conduct a search op to give families closure.
He said although it was a natural disaster, people too are not beyond blame. The Government must raise a corpus fund to save our hills and foothills. “Protect the Himalayas; there’s a disaster waiting to happen,” cautioned Joshi.Remembering the plight of Uttarakhand tragedy victims, ‘Bhaiyyaji’ Joshi, said, “Be it a man-made disaster or a natural calamity, the loss is irreparable.” Scientists should study the causes behind the Uttarakhand disaster so that a clear plan of action is formulated to avoid such tragedies in future, he advised.
BJP leader and Buxar MP Ashwini Kumar Choubey, who too was stranded with his family when disaster struck Uttarakhand last year, accused the earlier UPA regime for having a “laid-back attitude” towards the victims.“Death certificates have not been issued to all the deceased. Victims are still missing a year later. Compensation hasn’t reached all the families. This is another glaring example of the Government trying to pull wool over our eyes,” he said.