Prevented from visiting village Toor across Ravi by police, NDRF
Assures all support to victims
Performs ‘ardas’ at Gurdwara Baba Budha Sahib
Punjab Newsline, Amritsar/Gurdaspur-
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi today visited various flood-hit villages in Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. He was however stopped from visiting village Toor across the river Ravi by the local police and officials of the National Disaster Response Force.
Gandhi also paid obeisance at the Gurdwara Baba Budha Sahib Ji, in Ramdas Ajnala and performed ‘ardas’ there. The special ‘ardas’ was performed in memory of those who lost lives and for the welfare of all Punjabis.
The senior Congress leader arrived at Amritsar airport in the morning. He was accompanied by party leaders including general secretry in charge Bhupesh Bhagel, PCC president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, CLP Leader Partap Singh Bajwa, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, secretary Ravinder Dalvi, Om Prakash Soni, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukh Sarkaria, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Sukhminder Singh Danny, Vijay Inder Singla, Capt Sandeep Sandhu and others.
He straightway drove to the Gurudwara Budha Sahib Ji and performed ‘ardas’ there for the welfare and prosperity of people including those who had suffered from floods.
On arrival, he was briefed by the party leaders about the extent of damage and devastation caused in Punjab due to the floods. They also brought to his notice the negligence of the state and central governments, which added to the devastation. They told him that timely action by the state and the central governments could have prevented the damage by about 75 percent.
They also told him that while the state government had failed to provide immediate aid and assistance to people, the central government had also let the state down with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing a meagre Rs 1600 crore flood relief package when the losses are estimated to be worth over Rs 20,000 crores. They said the state government machinery was not visible in the beginning.
Rahul appreciated the efforts put in by the party leaders and workers during the floods. He said he was grateful that the party’s sitting and former MPs and MLAs had decided to contribute their one-month salary/pension towards the flood relief fund. He said he had always been deeply touched and impressed by the great spirit of service among the common Punjabis who do not let the adverse situations and circumstances demoralise them. This, he added, was seen during the floods also.
Later interacting with the flood hit victims, he inquired about their immediate needs and concerns. Majority of people living along the riverbanks, whose houses have been damaged, wanted immediate compensation for their houses.
The senior Congress leader assured people that he will raise their issues at relevant quarters and would press for more and adequate relief to the victims. He also agreed with the state Congress leaders saying that the central package was far too less than what was needed.
Gandhi had to cancel his visit to the village Toor across the Ravi, which remained cut off during the floods. He had reached village Makora Pattan for onward journey through boat to village Toor. However, he could not go, as the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had received a telephone call from the union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting him that Gandhi should avoid crossing the flooded river for safety concerns.