PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
With the issue of the Dharali disaster eliciting attention again after Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ajay Kothiyal’s statement about bodies yet to be recovered from debris, the BJP has stated that the Congress delegation’s visit to Dharali was basically political tourism, adding that the State government is committed to providing succour to the affected families.
The BJP State media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said that as in the past, the Congress was busy in the politics of allegations and counter allegations during the difficult time of disaster while staying away from ground zero. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was at ground zero monitoring the rescue and relief operations for three days. “The State government is doing the best rehabilitation works with the aim of rebuilding Dharali and providing a strong foundation to every affected family,” he said.
Referring to allegations levelled by Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godiyal, he said that the Congress’ Dharali tour was political tourism. “When the people were facing the ire of nature, the administration under CM Dhami’s leadership was working round the clock to save lives, provide ration, medicines and safe shelter to the people while the Congress was absent from the scene. Despite the local administration making arrangements for secure access to the affected area, the then PCC president Karan Mahara appeared to be indulging in adventure tourism in the region and then he too avoided visiting the area. The Congress leaders had no complaint in the past four months. It is surprising that those not even mentioning Dharali three days ago went to the area just to score political points,” Chauhan said.
