Expressing shock over large scale destruction of property and loss of human lives in hill state of Uttarakhand in cloud burst and rains, Bahujan Samaj Party national president Mayawati has asked the Union Government to declare this tragedy as national calamity.
“Such a large scale destruction in two days of rains leaving thousands dead and as many homeless speaks volumes about hardship people are facing there. The government should treat it as national calamity and announce relief accordingly,” Mayawati said in a statement issued here on Thursday.
‘’I appeal to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to intervene and declare this tragedy as ‘national calamity’. People need help and it is the responsibility of all us to extend a helping hand to them,” she said.
Mayawati has also directed BSP workers to engage themselves in the relief and rescue work. She also reminded the Samajwadi Party Government of its responsibility towards Uttarakhand because this hill state was party of UP till 2000.
“The people there do not require sympathy from politicians. They need immediate material help because they have lost everything they had. Their houses have been washed away and they have lost their near and dears in the floods,” she said and added that other state government should come forward and help the Uttarakhand Government in re-building the state. Mayawati said thousands of pilgrims and tourists were still trapped there. The Government and administration should make arrangements for rescuing them and send them back to their native places.
Uttar Pradesh government, which has already announced Rs 25 crore assistance.