Shinde's remark on Uttarakhand relief efforts disappointing: BJP

Instead of taking steps to ensure better coordination, the Centre is levelling charges at state govt, says Naqvi

Describing as "disappointing" Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's statement that lack of coordination had hampered relief efforts in Uttarakhand, the BJP today asked who was to be blamed when both the Centre and the state were being ruled by Congress.

"The statement of the Home Minister is disappointing. At this time of peril, when the people affected by this calamity need to hear words of relief from the government, contradictory remarks are being heard," party vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters here.

"To say that there is lack of coordination among the agencies is very unfortunate in itself. Uttarakhand as well as the Centre have Congress governments, so who is being accused of?," he asked.

Naqvi said that instead of taking steps to ensure better coordination, the Centre was levelling accusations at the state government.

"If there is lack of coordination, then there was a need to correct it and provide relief to the people, those who are in pain and agony should be helped, instead of the government at the Centre accusing its state government," Naqvi said.

Naqvi's comments came after Shinde admitted that there had been a "lack of coordination between government agencies engaged in rescue operations."

He said locals have also been affected in Uttarakhand with entire villages swept away. Relief efforts should be made on war-footing to help them also.