Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh
The Congress leaders in Himachal Pradesh have hit back at Narendra Modi accusing the state government of wrongly giving out central aid meant for flood victims and they want to know, how much funds were given to them last year to cater for that calamity.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Congress candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha seat Vikramaditya Singh made the critical remarks late Friday evening, hours after Mr. Modi told a rally the Centre gave crores of rupees during the monsoon disaster last year but the state government did a “bandar bant (indiscriminate allocation)” of funds.
PM had also said on Friday while canvassing for BJP Mandi Lok Sabha seat candidate Kangana Ranaut that he will recover the money from those who got it wrongly and give it to Mandi people.
Speaking at rallies in late evening on Friday, CM Sukhu said Himachal Pradesh received money under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) which are available whether there is a disaster or not.
He said this when he clarified that nothing was received even though revised claim estimate amounting to ₹9,900 crore was sent by the state government to Delhi; adding that no amount has been given despite these “lies” by BJP leaders on this matter.
This was something he wanted them to tell him. They should tell us now as it stands how much special relief amount has been given by center for Himachal Pradesh.
Accordingly, Mr. Sukhu further mentioned: The PM while speaking yesterday at my rallies asked women if they were getting Rs 1,500 per month as promised by Congress before polls.
This is because it seems Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur may have given wrong information about this to Prime Minister. There is no way women in Lahaul Spiti would have started receiving ₹1,500.
According to Sukhu, As many as ₹2.37 lakh women taking social security pension of Rs 1,150 have also started getting ₹1500 in their accounts.
Jairam Thakur should be asked by the PM why he went to EC for stopping the money of ₹1,500 from being given to the women.
If today BJP writes a letter to election commission saying that they don’t have any problem so tomorrow morning itself ₹1,500 will be credited into those account of those women which had filled up the form, Mr. Sukhu said.
In a video message released here on behalf of Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh last night, it was stated that people of Himachal Pradesh would have been happy if Modi had stepped into state during monsoon misfortune of 2013.
The state assembly had passed a resolution seeking a ₹12,000-crore special package but received only Rs 300 crore and that too under the NDRF and SDRF, he said adding that this (₹300 crore) could have been anyway given irrespective whether such happened or not since; it was supposed to come.
“Where was PM Modi, who calls Himachal as his second home, during the disaster,” Mr. Singh asked.
During calamities there are claims by BJP that an amount of ₹1.762 crores were given by center besides funds given for construction 2300 roads and 11000 houses for victim’s rehabilitation.
