Keshubhai Govt. neglecting relief work: BJP MPs

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 31. Two Bharatiya Janata Party MPs from Kutch have come down heavily on the Keshubhai Government blaming it for ``criminal negligence, inefficiency'' and ``failure'' in the matter of relief and rehabilitation of the quake victims. Although for some time the BJP has been claiming quick and efficient relief and rehabilitation work, it will now have to explain the open criticism that has begun coming from within the party, and from people who should know for they belong to the areas worst affected by the killer-quake. In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister - copies of which have been sent to the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, and the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, who represents the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency - Mr. P.S. Gadhavi, Lok Sabha MP, and Mr. Anand Dave from the Rajya Sabha, said they were ``not in a position to face the people of Kutch'' as the State Government had not come out with a rehabilitation policy, let alone begin to implement it.

The demands, spelt out in the letter are: give piped water from the Narmada to Kutch as done for Saurashtra; give immediate cash compensation to the injured and relatives of those killed in the quake; immediately declare the rehabilitation policy, especially for the residents of the four towns - Bhuj, Anjar, Bachau and Rapar - that were almost completely destroyed; and give temporary shelters and start planning the permanent shelters. ``We want clear answers from the Government,'' the letter said, `` for the people's patience had begun to run out.'' Without giving a time- frame, the MPs have also warned that if nothing was done soon, they will be forced to ``consult the people'' and ``take the next step.'' However, they were not willing to say what those steps might be.

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Section  : National
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