Date:01/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/01/stories/2005010105180400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

BJP makes light of Manmohan's visit

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 31. The BJP has urged the Centre to think of long-term rehabilitation of tsunami victims in the State demanded an assistance of Rs. 500 crores for infrastructure-building and putting in place permanent safety measures.

At a press conference on Friday, the former Union Minister, Bandaru Dattatreya, said the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh's visit to the State today appeared to be mere formality.

Aid inadequate

"The Prime Minister did not promise anything to the tsunami-struck people," he said.

"While the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, put forth a proposal seeking Rs. 317 crores as calamity aid, Dr. Singh had sanctioned just Rs. 100 crores," Mr. Dattatreya said, adding it was grossly inadequate to serve the purpose.

Centre's reluctance

"Relief, rescue and rehabilitation apart, the need of the hour to think of long-term safeguards, like a bund, in vulnerable areas," he said.

He recalled the Centre's `initial reluctance' in declaring a national calamity and said both the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil and the AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh, had first said there was no need for such a declaration. Later, the Chief Minister had described it as a technical matter in the hands of the Centre.

Pathetic response

Mr. Dattatreya said that along with the former Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, he had toured badly-affected areas in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and seen hundreds of bodies.

The Government's response to the alarming situation was pathetic and woefully inadequate, he said, adding that while several Union Ministers were visiting Tamil Nadu, there was none in Andhra Pradesh except for a brief overnight visit by Mr. Patil.